By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
In a bid to eliminate Gender Based Violence (GBV) in Nigeria, experts have urged individuals and organisations to unite and advocate for a world where everyone can live free from fear, discrimination and violence of any kind and by anyone.
This call was made by Gender and Peace Advocate, Aderonke Ogunleye-Bello who is the Executive Director, FAME Foundation, during a press conference on Friday in Abuja to unveil a programme tagged “16 Days of Activism Calendar” to bring to the front burner the issue of GBV.
She said that time has come for men, women, boys and girls to stand against GBV, pointing out that silence perpetuates the cycle of the crime. She disclosed that facts and figures have revealed that 87% of male victims of completed or attempted rape reported only male perpetrators.
Ogunleye-Bello whose non-governmental (FAME) boasts of Psychologists and mental health experts committed to helping individuals overcome the trauma of GBV insists that the fight against the scourge involves everyone in the society.
Said she: “We must unite, men, women, boys and girls to stand against GBV. Silence perpetuates the cycle, it’s time to lend our voices, listen without judgement and support survivors in their journey towards healing.
“Some victims of rape or other sexual violence incidents are male. It is estimated that approximately one in six men experienced sexual abuse during childhood.
“Historically, rape was thought to be, and defined as, a crime committed solely against females. This belief is still held in some parts of the world, but rape of males is now commonly criminalised and has been subject to more discussion than in the past”, she said.
The Gender and Peace Advocate also disclosed that 82% of male victims of sexual coercion reported only female perpetrators while 53% of male victims of unwanted sexual contact reported only female perpetrators. Also, 48% of male victims of lifetime non-contact unwanted sexual experiences reported only male perpetrators.
She said the way forward is to employ a collective efforts in the fight against GBV and therefore called on Nigerians to join hands with organisations and individuals to end GBV. READ ALSO:
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Meanwhile, Ogunleye-Bello said “16 Days of Activism Calendar”will commence tomorrow November 25 with the launching of International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women flyer while graphics of GBV and Campaign flyer will be distributed on Sunday.
Next week will see a lot of activities including visits to Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) to dialogue with boys and girls and carrying sensitization in schools among other things.
