The Anambra State 50/50 Action Women Group has launched a grassroots movement to combat the abuse of domestic workers and gender-based violence (GBV), taking its advocacy campaign directly to communities in Ikem Ifite, Nando and Aguleri, Anambra East Local Government Area.
The campaign was unveiled during the August 2026 meetings of the Ikem Ifite Nando Town Union Women Wing and later replicated in Aguleri as part of a wider community mobilisation initiative spearheaded by the women-led group.
The Women Aid Collective (WACOL) established the 50/50 Action Women Group with support from the Ford Foundation to promote gender equality, protect vulnerable women and children, and challenge discriminatory practices at the grassroots.
Speaking at the gathering, Ifeyinwa Ofodile-Nwafor, Legal Officer at WACOL’s Anambra State office, educated participants on the Child Rights Law in Anambra.
She reminded mothers that domestic workers are entitled to dignity, protection and justice.
Ofodile-Nwafor warned women against the maltreatment of house helps, stressing that child abuse and other forms of violence are criminal offences punishable under the law.
She recalled the case of a teacher sentenced to prison for sexually abusing his pupil, with the court also barring him from teaching.
The Legal Officer also referenced the imprisonment of a university student whose actions, she said, destroyed his future and disgraced his family.
She urged mothers to be more intentional about monitoring their children’s movements and friendships.
“Let us not sacrifice our children’s future on the altar of economic pursuit. Some people succeed financially but lose their children to waywardness,” she cautioned.
Executive Director, Social and Integral Development Centre (SIDEC) and Coordinator, 50/50 Action Women Group in Anambra, Ugochi Ehiahuruike, inaugrated the comittee.
She earlier explained that the initiative was a direct response to the rising cases of gender inequality, domestic help abuse and violence against women across the South-East.
“We are now taking up the fight against house-help abuse and GBV because it is assuming an alarming rate in Anambra State.
“Sadly, some of the abusers are fellow women while some of them enable the crime. Our message is simple: stop child abuse and gender-based violence or face the full weight of the law,” she said.
Ehiahuruike called on residents to break the culture of silence by reporting abuse to WACOL, SIDEC, the 50/50 Action Women Group or relevant authorities.
“We will not be everywhere. When you report abuse, you become a vital partner in protecting vulnerable women and children.”
A major highlight of the Nando meeting was the inauguration of a 14-member 50/50 Action Women Safe Space Committee for Ikem Ifite, Nando.
The committee will serve as the community’s first point of response to GBV by providing confidential support, referrals for survivors, community sensitisation and early reporting of abuse cases.
Organisers described the inauguration as the beginning of a broader community-based protection network that will be replicated across Anambra communities to ensure that no victim suffers in silence.
Following the successful launch in Nando, the advocacy team proceeded to Aguleri, where they delivered the same message, urging women to reject domestic violence, protect domestic workers and uphold the rights of children.
The group reaffirmed that the abuse of domestic workers and all forms of gender-based violence are crimes, insisting that communities must no longer serve as safe havens for perpetrators.
“We are watching, we are organising, and we are acting. Together, we can protect the vulnerable and restore dignity to our communities,” the group declared.
