The International Federation of Women Lawyers, Ebonyi branch, reports that it has handled 56 civil cases within the past nine months.

Its chairwoman, Oluchukwu Ik-Odeh, stated that the cases included child abandonment, female disinheritance, and spousal battery.

Ms Ik-Odeh said this on Wednesday in an interview in Abakaliki.

She decried the increasing rate of child abandonment and the condition of children who suffer when their parents are in conflict.

She faulted the negligence and expressed worry that such attitudes were often found among people in reputable positions in society.

She stated that such maltreatment could result in harmful effects on the development of children and threaten the safety of society.

“Cases of child abandonment and lack of child welfare are enormous. These children are being traumatised, and it has an effect on what is happening in society. Other matters handled include spousal battery on both sides and female disinheritance, which is highly prevalent,” she added.

She disclosed that the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law states that “women are entitled to their family inheritance”, adding that some people claimed not to be aware of the law.

She noted that the organisation had embarked on a legal competence training project to help eliminate harmful practices.

She added that the exercise, which is expected to be carried out across the state, aimed to improve access to justice and strengthen grassroots involvement for community development.

She said that the project also aligned with the goal of developing community-level policies, such as bylaws.

“The process will ensure that bylaws are put in place,” Ms Ik-Odeh said.

According to her, the organisation also followed up on criminal cases up to judgment by providing support for the complainants and victims.

(NAN)