The Association Against Child Sexual and Gender Based Violence has called on Nigerians to adopt a “community-based approach” to tackle sexual and gender based violence in the country.
The group made the recommendation at its Annual Gender Conference on Thursday in Ibadan entitled: “Promoting Social Security: Championing Inclusivity”.
Dr Eris Jewo-Ibi, National Coordinator of the group, said that a community-based approach would result in the reduction of the menace; when communities take ownership and openly discuss violence and exchange views.
She added that communities must also develop strategies for mediation and sanctions for perpetrators of such act.
She said that the group had inaugurated a project in some states in the country to address the incessant cases of sexual and gender-based violence.
“The group is implementing a community-based approach to eliminating sexual and gender-based violence in Nigeria.
“Delta is the pilot state of this project and Oyo State is the third after Akwa-Ibom to inaugurate this project.
“Other states such as Edo, Benue, Bayelsa, Calabar, Rivers and Plateau are also responding, referring and engaged in gender and sexual-based violence case management.
“They are also providing care and support services to victims and survivors of gender-based violence.
“Response and referral service delivery to victims and survivors of gender-based violence increased in 2020, during the lock down as a result of COVID-19 pandemic.
“Women-led professional associations and faith-based organisations provided care and support services to victims and survivors of child abuse, sexual and domestic violence with use of the telephone referrals.
“At that time, kind Nigerians, advocates, town unions, CBOs were providing gender protection, counselling and psycho-social support services to victims of rape, domestic and other forms of gender-based violence next door.
“At community levels, there were lots of rescue success stories from referral interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic,” she said.
Mr Otolorin Oyinloye, the keynote speaker at the occasion, said that there was a need to raise awareness and participatory levels of social protection in the country.
Oyinloye, a counselling psychologist, said that there was a need to support the design and drafting of bills and policies such as the gender economic opportunity, violence against persons prohibition bill and national social protection policy.
“To facilitate all these, transparency and accountability must be entrenched in the programmes, especially in the aspects of selection of beneficiaries.,” he said.
Earlier in her welcome address, Mrs Alaba Ehindero, Chairperson, Oyo State Chapter of the group, said that the group was out to create an effective response to human rights violation cases in the country.
“The vision is to create an effective and comprehensive response that promotes human rights, reduces inequality and mitigates all forms of sexual and gender-based violence.
“While our mission is to rehabilitate and provide adequate care and support services to vulnerable persons and survivors of sexual and gender-based violence,” she said. (NAN)
