By Angela Nkwo-Akpolu
Nigeria joined the rest of the world to observe the 16 days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, which is an international campaign which takes place every year from November 25 (International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women) to December 10 (Human Rights Day), also encompassing other important key dates.
The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence is widely known as the ‘16 Days Campaign’, and is used as an organizing strategy by individuals and organizations around the world to call for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls. It was originated by the first Women’s Global Leadership Institute in 1991 and is coordinated by the Center for Women’s Global Leadership.
In Imo State, a Non Governmental Organization (NGO), Alliances For Africa (AFA) held activities in the three senatorial zones to raise awareness on rising cases of gender based violence against women and girls.
In Umuezeala Ogwara in Ehime Mbano local government area of Imo State, Okigwe zone, AFA’s project Manager, Blessing Duru alerted the audience on the increasing number of rape of girls and women, and even minors.
According to her, men and boys also experience violence from women and this must be condemned even as she added that the number is small when compared with violence against women and girls.
Duru said the issue affects both women and men noting that it affects women and girls more. She listed such violence to include rape, baby factory, domestic violence amongst others.
According to her, many communities hide reports of rape, without appropriate punishment for offenders, even as she said that the offence was entirely a criminal act and should be treated as such.
“In some communities, perpetrators of rape are asked to marry the rape victims as a means of punishment, thereby giving other people the impression that the reward for rape is marriage and this is totally wrong”, Duru said.
She disclosed that such was a great abuse on women and called on them to henceforth report such cases to the police for prosecution.
The Project Manager said that “rape is a criminal offence and must be treated so. How do you force a victim of rape to live with the person who assaulted her as her husband. Did the community find out from her the pains she is undergoing both psychological and physical. Please report all incidents of rape to the police and arrest the perpetrators but say no to mob action”.
According to her, some people take the laws into their hands via jungle justice but she appealed to them to rather hand over such perpetrators to the police.
She expressed concerns over the rising cases of abuse of minors by men, saying that parents should take measures to protect their children and wards from abuse; as almost every rape victim lives a haunted life.
The AFA Project Manager lamented that rape is on the increase and is overwhelming, saying people entrusted to take care of children, such as teachers, security personnel, caregivers, amongst others, now abuse them.
“As I speak to you, the police has just arrested a driver with the Imo Transport Corporation (ITC) who raped an 11 year-old girl. The girl is six months pregnant as we speak. Now tell me, how prepared is an 11 year-old to become a mother.
“Some people blame demons as the push but I believe if they stay in prison, that place will help to address it and serve as deterrent to others. Many children have rapid growth but their body’s are not ready for sex. Please let us allow the children to enjoy their innocence, stop defiling them and tormenting them for life.
“During this 16 days activism, all we will discuss is how to stop all forms of violence against women and girls, and against men and boys. This is an enlightenment program to intimate people that it is criminal”, Duru said.
On management of rape especially of underage, she regretted that some fathers rape their daughters, and also abort the babies like the case of Faith’s father from Edo State.
On baby factories, she berated parents who encourage their children to bring money even when they know that such children do not have any means of income, saying that they may be subtly encouraging the boom of baby factories.
According to her, baby factory is another wicked trend against women and girls. Boy child costs above N1million and girls cost N800,000.
The AFA chief said that child upbringing remains the duty of parents, especially women, who bear the brunt of bad children, noting that such parents raise their children with criminal slant because they shirk their responsibility.
She further stated that the penalty for rape is life imprisonment even as she disclosed that Nigeria has launched a register on sexual offenders and it will be published.
Duru explained that sexual offenders don’t go about with the tag, and called on parents to pay attention to their children, saying they should learn to believe their children when they express discomfort around a person.
She said: “A child doesn’t lie about such. Don’t ask them to prove it because they may not be able to. Just believe and take measures to punish offenders”.
When allegations of rape are made, “please don’t bathe the child or person, first go to the police and report. They will give you proforma invoice which you will take to the hospital for medical examination. The Doctors will give you a medical report confirming the rape. This will serve as proof during prosecution. Don’t also wash the clothes the victim wore, so samples can be taken from it”, she advised.
Further, she told mothers not to allow their children sit on peoples laps because most times, abusers are not strangers but people trusted by the children and families.
“Allow your children unrestricted access to you, let them feel free to confide in you. Don’t trust anyone no matter how placed even clergymen, and don’t expose your children to adult content on television, because such children are bad influence on others”, she stated.
Traditional ruler of Umuezeala Ogwara in Ehime Mbano local government area of Imo State, Eze Emmanuel Ekwunto expressed appreciation for the enlightenment program and promised to sensitize other people in the community as well.
In Avu community in Owerri West local government, Owerri zone, AFA’s Program Officer, Chinwe Anozie said some communities charge N100,000 for rape offenders and said the punishment is not stringent enough, even as she maintained that it was a criminal offense, and called on them to prosecute perpetrators even as she reechoed everything said at Umuezeala ogwara in Ehime Mbano local government area of Imo State.
The sensitization also held at Orlu local government area, for Orlu zone where Anozie said female violence is every act that seeks to reduce women.
She listed violent acts to include when a man prefers his wife with male children to those who don’t have any, and condemned the act.
Anozie said women undergo painful experience for being widows while same is not meted out to widowers.
She said the VAMP Bill before the State Assembly addresses such acts, because it will proffer measures for offenders, whether male or female.
She said FIDA, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), police, have all been trained to help rape victims.
Anozie said indecent dressing is not an invitation to rape, as even babies and old women have been victims. Besides, anybody who attains 18 years of age has rights to live anyhow she likes, adding that even commercial sex workers have their rights protected even while plying their trade.
She said no man should beat women for any reason, and parents should train their sons to shun battery and assault of any sort. All the same, it is important that people should begin to speak out on violence against women, Anozie added.
