Gender Based Violence Must End In Nigeria-Actionaid, HUFFPED

Actionaid Nigeria and its implementing partners, Humanity Family Foundation For Peace and Development (HUFFPED), and Women’s Rights in Health Project, have condemned the rising cases of gender based violence in Nigeria, saying the crime must stop in the country.

In a way to curb the crime in Lagos State, the collaboration has concluded a day sensitisation workshop for primary school teachers in Ikorodu area of Lagos State to provide education for participants on handling cases of Gender Based Violence in their various schools and communities.

Facilitating the session, a social worker, Mosunmola Balogun who works with Hope for HIV and AIDS, said the session was about Gender Based Violence and people should be well sensitised in order to prevent the crime. “It is about gender based violence basically against female and male children though it is not that pronounced in the case of the male children,” she said.

Explaining further, she said, “What I focused on was to let the participants know the forms of GBV. I also made them realise what to do in case of rape, how to get to the hospital to make sure the girl is tested for HIV and to be sure she is not infected with other STIs.”

Balogun who is not unaware of the provision of a shelter for survivors of domestic violence by the Lagos State government, said, “I am aware the Lagos State government has approved a shelter for survivors of gender based violence. It is a welcome development. There is a case of a girl we are trying to move, we are still in the process. The child is infected with HIV, double orphaned and she stays in an environment where boys smoke all manner of substances, she lives with an elderly woman and that is where we have decided to move her away from the environment to a safe place because she is prone to assault,” she said.

Prevention she said is better than cure, Balogun suggested that mothers in unsafe areas should relocate with their children in order to protect their children especially the girl child from gender based abuses.

“Mothers of children in unsafe or violent areas should consider relocating to safe areas because of their children. I don’t advise mothers to leave their children in unsafe areas because prevention is better than cure,” she said.

She however said in case of rape, survivors should speak up in order to get help and bring perpetrators to book.

“In the case of rape, the survivor should speak out, reach out to relevant agencies because this is how to get help early enough,” she said, continuing that, “There are pills a rape survivor can take within 72 hours if it is reported, that will prevent unwanted pregnancy. It is not sold on the shelve, it has to be reported and that is how to get the pill, people should not cover things like this up,” she advised.

According to the social worker, her agency sensitises adolescent girls on how to protect themselves from gender based violence.

Balogun however wants perpetrators of gender based violence punished in line with the laws of the land.

“Anybody caught in rape or other gender based violence should be dealt with according to the law, a lot do not get justice except it is followed up. Lagos State does not joke with such crimes and my advice is that anybody caught should be dealt with according to the law and such information should be made known.

“Some mothers because of the shame don’t want it exposed because most times the act is perpetrated by relatives and the family would say they don’t want to further the case and the guy will continue in the act. If we can educate people on the need to speak up, a lot of these things will be reduced if there is justice,” she said.

Representing Women’s Right in Health Project at the event, a social worker, Abisoye Ajose,  said the event was very insightful.

“The training was for school teachers and counselors. It  was an insightful one. I am able to monitor the event and see experiences of the teachers. The facilitator was apt and excellent.

“She shared a lot of experiences and on-case managements and how teachers can help students in helping to managing gender based violence issues,” she said.

On shelter for survivors of domestic violence being organsied by the Lagos State government, Ajose said it is a welcome development as a lot of women organisations have been advocating for the need for shelters where women suffering from domestic violence can be protected.

“There are times women suffering from domestic violence don’t have anywhere to go and that keeps them in the violent relationships. Kudos to the Lagos State government for taking that up because we all know the cost of managing shelter is very high,” she said.

Participants took turn to appreciate the organisers and express readiness to pass down knowledge gained at the event.

“As a teacher, I have learnt one or two things, so that if I have any case around my pupils I know what steps to take,” said, Oyelayo, Funmilayo, a primary school teacher.

Another participant, Mrs. Ibitoye Kehinde Oluwakemi, said, “The program was impactful. All of us have decision to take about our lives especially we women and the female child,” she said.

The teacher continued that, “This training will enable us to go out and be independent. There are women that are jobless, we have to encourage them to be busy. There are women who know their husbands are maltreating their daughters but because they are not empowered, they would decide to keep silent because they don’t have means, but when you are busy and empowered and their husbands are misbehaving with their daughters, they will try to correct them and when they refuse, then they can give a space and speak out,” she said.

She also said the help lines shared during the workshop would be helpful to report gender based violence in the communities.