NGO urges government to address sexual, gender based violence
A call has gone to Kogi state government and religious leaders as a matter of urgency address sexual and genders based violence in Kogi state.
A Non-govermental organisation, Protect the Child Foundation (PTCF), a nonprofit and non-governmental organization (NGO) with the support of the French Embassy embarked on a three-day advocacy programme on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in Lokoja.
The NGO team led by its Executive Director, Barr. Mrs Elizabeth Ebulejonu Achimugu had a brief meeting with the leadership of the Market Union before taking its campaign against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence to the market.
The Executive Director said sexual and gender-based violence is a reality in Kogi state among urban and suburban dwellers and ignorance is one of the enablers of SGBV in the country as a whole.
According to her, “the organization is primarily committed to fighting for the eradication of Child Sexual Abuse through the provision of relevant information, emergency, legal and other services so as to guarantee a gender-violence free society.
“we took to the market to create awareness on sexual and gender-based violence, encourage speaking out, stop the shaming of survivors/victims and solicit support for protection of the rights of women, children and persons with disabilities.
“Sexual and gender-based violence is a reality in Kogi state among urban and suburban dwellers and ignorance is one of the enablers of SGBV in the country as a whole”.
She said that the organization was out to educate the public so as to dispel ignorance by sharing the right information, so everybody in Kogi state can be safe and feel safe stressing that this would help reduce the number of perpetrators and encourage people to report cases of abuse.
The organization called on traders to be part of the fight against SGBV as they are relevant stakeholders.
In the same vein, the legal officer and one of the facilitators of the programme, Barr. Stephen Peter Oguche revealed that “research had shown that out of every three women, one of them is likely to experience one form of sexual abuse or the other and that was why we are here to talk to these women and to also enlighten the men that women are not punching bags.”
The team sensitized men and women, traders and customers on Sexual and Gender Based Violence, distributing informative booklets, aprons and other relevant materials on sexual and gender-based violence, its effect and legal consequences for offenders as well as crucial preventive measures.
Miss Fatima Ibrahim, an undergraduate and customer at the market who listened to the sensitization programmed lent her voice to the fight against SGBV “please and please, our fathers stop abusing our mothers and our mothers stop keeping it to yourself when you are abused, even the teenagers when you are abused, report it. I thank the organization for the apron and awareness they have created today in the market.”
One of the traders, Mrs Meg Yoyina said ‘in the olden days our parents said they would not send girls to school except the boys, but from the way the organization spoke to us today during the sensitization, I will make sure my children would go to school, both boys and girls.”
Day 2 of the advocacy programme witnessed dialogue with women group in a serene environment from the hustle and bustle of the market.
According to Barrister Mrs Elizabeth Ebulejonu, the lead facilitator, “the difference between yesterday’s programme and today’s own is that PTCF Team spoke with different persons in the market while day 2 of the advocacy was exclusively with women group which afforded an opportunity to have a deeper conversation around questions that bother women, children and persons with disabilities particularly issues around SGBV. Mrs Achimugu urged women and other survivors to report cases of SGBV to appropriate authorities in order to reduce the scourge of SGBV in Kogi State.
The programme provided an ample opportunity for education and proffer actionable solutions to cases of SGBV in Kogi State, especially among the economically disadvantaged women in rural areas.
One of the expert facilitators, Ms Anna Williams disclosed that “this programme is expected to go beyond awareness creation to creating a safer society for everybody, including women, children and persons with disabilities as everyone deserves safety and protection.”
Ms Anna also added that the Foundation is also incorporating skill acquisitions and other forms of empowerment initiatives to help women gain financial independence needed to sustain themselves without having to literally depend on their husbands for survival.
A participant, Mrs Oiza Sadiq said ‘one of the lessons from the programme was the need to report cases of harassment and other forms of violence against women instead of the usual nonchalant attitude by most women.’’
Mrs Eleojo Salifu, one of the persons with disabilities also pledged to share the lessons learnt from the programme with other women, including persons with disabilities on the need to demand for respect for their rights as members of the community.
Similarly, Ms Okeku Blessing declared ‘henceforth, If I see any woman or girl, especially those with disabilities being sexually harassed or molested, I will take it upon myself to protect that child or woman’.
The third and last day of the sensitization programme was dedicated for engaging men and men group in an open discussion on their roles in preventing SGBV.
The dialogue with the men revealed cultural, religious, economic and social factors as some of the triggers of domestic violence.
According to Barr Elizabeth, because men are the decision-makers at homes, in families and communities, some of these decisions negatively affect women, children and persons with disabilities. It is against this background that we call on them not be perpetrators of abuse, support women, children and persons with disabilities and be advocates against SGBV in their various communities”
Mr Peter Omokhagbo, a facilitator at the programme urged the men to stay away from abuse and help make the society a better place for all. Another facilitator, Mrs Evidence Akwu Oyibo said the sensitization by the PTCF in Kogi State became necessary considering so many things happening in the country such as under-age marriages, rape and domestic violence”
One of the participants, Mr David Oladeye confessed that the sensitization was an eye-opener on the issues of sexual and gender-based violence for men and young ones. The programme was very enlightening and we promise to take the knowledge gained from the programme to our respective homes and places of workship says Taha Muhammed.
A participant representing Persons with Disability group, Mr Simon Audu, stated that there is no excuse for abuse.
The discussion took another dimension when some men revealed their experiences of sexual abuse, including gang-rape by some women to indicate that men could also be victims of SGBV. They therefore suggested that the advocacy should also extend to protecting the rights of men even though women and children are often the most victims.
The three-day advocacy programme was rounded off with distribution of relevant materials, group photograph and commitment by participants to preventing and reporting cases of SGBV to appropriate authorities. The leadership of Protect the Child Foundation expressed profound gratitude to the French Embassy Fund for providing the funding support for the programme which has greatly impacted the lives of the people of Kogi State.