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Group advocates awareness of sexual, gender-based violence

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The Rising Child Foundation has said data gathered has stressed the need to create awareness about sexual and gender-based violence in various local governments in the Kwara state.

The project tagged ‘Stamp Out GBV and it was supported by Global Youth Movement.

The Director of Rising Child Foundation, Taibat Hussein,
said the agency’s commitment to sensitize people at the grassroots was driven by data, adding that the idea behind the sensitization is to bring justice closer to the people.

She said this at an awareness programme held on Wednesday in Ilorin.

Speaking, Mrs. Taibat said in the past few years, there has been a spotlight on the growing cases of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in different parts of the globe, making it one of the most prevalent human rights issues worldwide.

“Cases of Gender-based Violence abound in every part of the country. In fact, due to the prevalence of violence against women and girls in Nigeria, the Federal Government was 2020, forced by activists, to declare a state of emergency on GBV. This was after a series of cases of violence against women sparked protests on and offline.

“Almost every day, we read or hear stories of victims and survivors of GBV in the media. In the case of Barakat Bello, a 19-year-old girl who was gang-raped and murdered in Ibadan, Oyo State, Uwa Omozuwa who was raped inside a church in Benin, Edo State and subsequently died as a result of the brutal attack, to Hiny Umoren, a 26-year-old job-seeking lady who was murdered by a man who had invited her for a job interview in Uyo, Akwa-Ibom. Recently, the Nigerian media space was awash with news of the death of a popular gospel singer, Osinachi, who reportedly died after enduring a series of physical assaults from her husband.

“These few instances are just a tiny fraction of the numerous cases of violence that Nigerian women and girls have and continue to experience, but unfortunately, many of these cases are either not reported or underreported, largely due to socio-cultural and religious sentiments, victimization and intimidation.

“Let me note that Gender-based Violence can manifest in several forms but the most prevalent ones especially in Nigeria are domestic/physical violence, sexual harassment, sexual exploitation, emotional and psychological violence, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), forced early marriage, rape of minors, among other harmful practices against women and girls.

She said, “Available data show that 3 in 10 Nigerian women have experienced physical violence by age 15. Data also shows that 30 percent of Nigerian women aged 15 to 49 have experienced sexual abuse. A report conducted by the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development and the United Nations Population Fund with support from the Norwegian Government revealed that 28% of Nigerian women between the ages of 25 and 29 have experienced physical violence since 15.”

“As is the case in states across Nigeria, Kwara State is also grappling with rising cases of GBV. I am sure many of us can still remember the sad case of a 300l student of the University of Ilorin, Blessing Olajide who was raped and killed at her residence in Tanke, Ilorin. Security agencies in the State are constantly overwhelmed with reports of domestic violence against women and cases of parents/guardians enslaving and inflicting injuries on their children and wards.”

Mrs. Taibat further noted, a few months ago, the Kwara State Command of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) came out to raise alarm over the growing incidence of violence against women and girls in the State.

She explained that 25 selected young ladies will organize a broad-based training for 25 selected young ladies that will be regarded as GBV champions.


At the end of the training, we will create a Kwara Gender Action Group that will comprise participants of the training. The group will work in local communities across Kwara to create awareness on GBV issues, track and report cases of violent abuse against women, and advocate for redress for victims and punishment for the offenders. Our GBV champions will also carry out sustained awareness on GBV across senior secondary schools in Kwara State while creating a pipeline for safe reportage of GBV cases.

“In addition, we will embark on the market drive, organize radio shows, reach out to the community and religious leaders and other relevant stakeholders to create awareness on GBV and seek their support and cooperation towards the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls.”

The group, however, solicited support from the state government, relevant bodies, and the public.

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