Women’s Coalition Empowers Children In Bayelsa

The Association of Women Against Gender-Based Violence (AWAGBV) has renewed commitment to creating a safer, more supportive environment for women and children in Bayelsa State and beyond.

The grand patron of the association, Chief Dr. Anthonia Garner, stated this during a press briefing yesterday in Yenagoa ahead of the Niger Delta summit against human trafficking and gender based violence with the theme: “Raising Teenage Ambassadors Against Human Traffickers and Violators of Domestic Violence” slated for July 6 to 8, 2025.

She emphasised the urgent need to protect children, noting that many were becoming afraid of society due to the trauma caused by domestic violence.

“If you don’t go all out to protect your child, it is child abuse,” she said, stressing that the group’s agenda was to provide long-term support to families rather than breaking them.

Garner further stated that while preserving family unity was essential, it required comprehensive support services, adding that the collaboration of experts from various fields was crucial to effectively support women and families facing gender-based violence.

“Children do better in families that stay together,” she explained, “but to achieve that, schools, hospitals, law enforcement, and NGOs must work together to intervene before crises escalate.”

The national president of the association, Dr. Barr. Dise Ogbise Goody-Harry, recounted the journey of AWAGBV, which started in 2017 as a coalition of women committed to fighting sexual and gender-based violence.