The Southern Sector Youth and Women’s Empowerment Network (SOSYWEN) has called on government to increase attention on the enforcement of laws that eliminate all forms of abuse against women in the country.

It has thus urged that the Judiciary and the police be adequately resourced to enable them carry out their mandate of preventing the “flagrant” disregard of the rights of women and girls.

In a statement to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women that is observed on November 25 worldwide, Zenabu Sakiba, Coordinator of SOSYWEN, said the relevant laws that protect the vulnerable in society have not been adequately upheld, giving impetus to more acts of abuse because perpetrators of crimes against women are not held accountable for their crimes.

She said it was of utmost importance that all legislations protecting women and are vigorously enforced to eliminate all forms of discrimination and cultural practices that dehumanizes women and girls.

SOSYWEN, a non-governmental organization, has for the past eight years campaigned for youth and women empowerment.

It has been recently focusing its efforts on the rights of women and girls accused, abused and banished from their societies for witchcraft.

Ms Sakiba used the occasion to call for a stakeholder approach to find a lasting solution to age old cultural practices, particularly the “witches’ camp” that infringed on the rights of women and society at large.

She appealed to Parliament to lead that charge against the abolition of social practices that discriminated against women and children, urging it (legislature) to take firm action on legal reforms on violence against women and to ensure effective implementation and enforcement of such laws.