MAMA Centre, VOICE Nigeria sensitise Udi rightsholders on Gender-Based Violence

The Mothers and Marginalised Advocacy Centre (MAMA Centre) in partnership with VOICE Nigeria organised a One-day Sensitisation Workshop for Udi rightsholders in commemoration of the United Day on Elimination of Violence Against Women.

The Sensitisation exercise aimed at educating and enlightening the rightsholders/women groups on the incessant violation, harassment and abuse at all levels, while opening them up to various preventive measures and existing platform to seek redress and demand justice. The meeting had in attendance over 65 participants comprising women groups across Udi Local Government Area.

The meeting had as its core thematic focus: Practical Guide and Discussions on Gender-Based Violence; Technical Presentation; Reporting Channel and Platforms to seek Redress and demand Justice; Feedback Session and Harvest of Action Points.

In her opening remarks at the Workshop, the Director Legal, MAMA Centre, Barr. (Mrs.) Ola E. Onyegbula condemned the existing socio-cultural beliefs, deliberately introduced discriminatory practices, laws and policies against women and girl child, as contributory factor for incessant violence against women and adolescent girls at all levels.

According to her, the Sensitisation exercise was held in commemoration of International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women with the primary aim to educate and enlighten the rightsholders on the incessant violation, harassment and abuse at all levels, while opening them up to various preventive measures and existing platform to seek redress and demand justice.

She highlighted that MAMA Centre in Partnership with VOICE Nigeria commemorated the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women 2022, under the aegis of theme “UNiTE! Activism to End Violence against Women & Girls”.

Onyegbula recalled with total condemnation, the recent cases in Yobe state involving the death of Sadiya Salihu, a middle-aged woman, who was reportedly locked by her husband, Ibrahim Yunusa Bature, in a room for one year without food; the death of an Abuja-based gospel artiste, Osinachi Nwachukwu, whose live was cut short through alleged abuse and domestic violence orchestrated by her husband in April, 2022; and many other unreported cases across the country.

She said: “Gender-Based Violence is enabled by the existing socio-cultural beliefs, deliberately introduced discriminatory and harmful practices, laws and policies against women and girl child at all levels.

“Nearly one third of all of Nigerian women have experienced silent physical violence, which encompasses infliction of live-threatening injuries, marital rape and murder, at the hands of their intimate partners; with normalised believe that a husband is justified in beating his wife for a number of reasons.

“While Gender-Based Violence in all ramifications is fast becoming a trend in recent times in Nigeria, Violence Against Person Prohibition (VAPP) Act is an enabling law with comprehensive provisions that if fully implemented would prevent and address incessant forms of violence including physical, psychological, sexual, harmful traditional practices; and socio-economic, among women and girls.”

The Director Legal recalled that in recent times, Nigeria is bedevilled by horrific trend in rape prevalence across with disproportionate response by various authorities including ill-thought commentaries by individuals or group of individuals who publicly hold unfair and despicable views against the victims.

“Under-reported cases of Gender-Based Violence in Nigeria pave way for unchecked degrading treatment, harassment, violation of women and girls with resultant social stigmatisation, isolation, life-threatening infections, death and in most cases, permanent disability.

“Survivors of abuse and violation if not properly rehabilitated and reintegrated suffer long-term psychological, social, emotional and physical impacts that impede their personal development and interaction with the society.

“Gender-Based Violence manifests in early child marriage, which constitutes a serious challenge to child bride’s emotional, social and cognitive development with amplified propensity for self-limitation, life-threatening marital violation and abuse,” she added.

Onyegbula called for targeted preventive engagement, policy interrogation and appropriate sanctions against systemic mainstreamed gender-based violence at the informal sector and within families.

She called for an increased psycho-emotional support system for the survivors of gender-based violence through institutionalised mechanisms like ‘safe space’ and proactive enforcement agencies to fully implement relevant provisions of existing laws including Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act.

She demanded full implementation of Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act with sincere political will to punish offenders with independent judiciary to constructively sanction the perpetrators without fear, intimidation or favour in a demonstration of sincere commitment to secure health, emotional and physical well-being of women and girls in the country.

The Director advocated prompt review and elimination of discriminatory laws and policies against women and girl child with demonstrated policy and community support at all levels; institutionalise effective rehabilitation, recovery and reintegration programmes through medical, psychological and legal services for the survivors at all levels.

She further called for strengthened organs for the administration of criminal Justice that respect human rights, women and girls’ rights as well as institutionalizing law enforcement and criminal justice structure that does not rely on fear and raw power, but on honour, professionalism, legality and fairness to all.

While discussing existing reporting platforms on Gender-Based Violence, Onyegbula encouraged women to leverage various reporting channel of MAMA Centre like its Girl Hub Platform and regionally-positioned Legal Team in seeking redress and demanding accountability.

Technical session/Presentation:

In a paper presentation titled “Understanding Gender-Based Violence”, the Lead presenter, Mrs. Jessica Okereke explained that GBV is “violence directed against a person because of that person’s gender or violence that affects persons of a particular gender disproportionately”.

Okereke listed as major drivers of GBV, child/early marriage, forced marriage, conflict/war situations and displacement, economic hardship, mental or physical disability.

According to her, no fewer than 35% of women worldwide have experienced either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or sexual violence by a non-partner; and up to 70% of women have experienced physical and/or sexual violence from an intimate partner in their lifetime.

“30% of women and girls aged 15-49 have experienced sexual abuse in Nigeria,” she said.

The Presenter also mentioned that in spite of various provisions in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigerian constitution and Child Right Act 2003 frowning at early marriages as a fundamental violation of human rights, there are growing prevalence of child marriage in some parts of the country with resultant early child birth, decreased development and social isolation of a girl child.

In her presentation, the acts that constitute sexual violations include Physical violations, Domestic violations, Harmful traditional practices, Economic violations, Work place violations etc.

She noted: “You can prevent violence against women/girls by educating yourself on violence against women, learn the facts and the prevalence.

“Believe survivors and contact relevant authorities including MAMA Centre which engages redress and advocate for tougher laws against perpetrators of violence against women and girls.

“Speak out against all forms of violence; question gender roles and assumptions; respect and embrace diversity; respect a person’s-even a child’s- right to say no; respect your partner’s right to disagree or have their own opinion.

“Don’t blame victims, and reinforce that rape is never the victim’s fault; strive for equality for everyone; understand that putting boys and men down by calling them ‘ladies’ and ‘girls’ hurts everyone; speak out against the media’s portrayal of violenceLearn how racism, sexism and homophobia are connected; acknowledge that it does happen in your own community.

“Learn about power and control tactics; avoid night events; realize that sexual violence is about power and control, not sex; teach kids that respect is the minimum in a relationship, and lead by example; advocate for victim’s rights; ask your priest, rabbi, pastor, cleric, or spiritual leader to hold a special service to raise awareness and promote safety for victims and accountability for perpetrators.

“Avoid engaging in, supporting or encouraging sexual harassment by speaking up when you see or hear it; teach kids that violence will not solve problems; know that most sex offenders aren’t strangers 86% are known to their victim; avoid making threats or using coercion and pressure to get sex; be courageous; don’t be afraid to speak up for those who have lost their voice or dignity.

“Praise women and girls for something other than the way they look; speak out against racist, sexist or homophobic jokes; advocate for more youth violence prevention programs; get others to speak out against sexual violence; stop your sexual advances if the other person says no and encourage others to do the same; avoid buying music that glorifies sexual violence and the objectification of women and girls; urge your local radio stations to stop playing music that contains violent lyrics.

“Applaud others who speak out against violence and oppression; pledge to never commit or condone acts of violence; stop yourself or others from taking advantage of someone who is intoxicated; make a decision to become an active bystander by speaking up and calling for help when necessary; respect the choices victims and survivors make to survive.

“Think globally and act locally; hold perpetrators accountable for disrespecting their partners when you see it or hear it; engage others in discussions about violence against women; learn about healthy boundaries and don’t be afraid to voice your feelings in your relationship; notice when someone invades your boundaries.

She added: “If you know of, or are concerned about, someone in an abusive relationship there are some things you can do.

“Keep regularly in touch with the person to check that they are safe, ensuring that it is safe for them to be in touch with you.

“Assume that a perpetrator of violence can see, hear and or monitor communications, so find out how best to communicate with the person that you are concerned about.

“Be discrete in connecting with them when the abuser is present in the home so that they are not placed at risk of additional harm. Check each time, as this may change.

“Find out what services for survivors of violence against women (e.g. shelters, hotlines, counselling services, women’s organizations like MAMA Centre) and make this information available through your MAMA Centre-Udi Liaison Officers.

“Only provide this information directly if you can do so discretely without the abuser finding out.

“If someone you know needs urgent help for whatever reason, be prepared to call emergency health services, MAMA Centre, the police, health centre.

Reacting to the presentation, Program Officer, MAMA Centre-VOICE Nigeria also Udi rightsholder, Mrs. Grace Oriaku explained that sensitisation of women across Udi communities on the International Day on Elimination Violence against Women would provoke critical discussions with revealing experience as well as existing reporting platforms for appropriate actions and justice.

“The challenges of Gender-Based Violence are also not unconnected to women and adolescent girls isolated in private homes as domestic workers, who suffer psychological, physical, and sexual abuse with resultant depression, abortion and life-threatening infections.

“We have received series of reports where survivors of abuse and violation suffer long-term psychological, social, emotional and physical impacts that hanper their personal development and interaction with the society.

“We also received regular reports of all forms of abuse, violation, harassment and degrading treatment levelled against women and girl child across the country.

“Just as we observed that the nationwide lockdown necessitated by Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 had disproportionately triggered dreaded impact of Gender-based Violence largely felt by women and girls in many communities.

“We must speak against discriminatory practices, laws and policies against women and girls, while demonstrating our readiness to support survivors in our communities

“We have also observed that women at childbearing age are regularly marginalised in various appointments, promotions and remunerations at workplaces for their maternal responsibilities.

“This should not be allowed and encouraged as every woman deserves a similar opportunity like male counterpart to reach her full potential in life.

“We must begin to recognise Gender-based Violence as the impact of unchecked socio-economic, cultural and political, discrimination perpetrated daily against women and girls in our communities,” Oriaku stressed.

Also, during the meeting, Project Champion/Udi rightsholders, MAMA Centre-VOICE Nigeria, Mrs. Cecelia Eze, called for adequate parental and policy support for girl child education, training and personal development to mitigate recurring incidence of violation and abuse at all levels.

She advised that adequate cooperation and collective support at households and community levels in proactive reporting of a suspected case will complement effort of relevant authorities in addressing Gender-Based Violence across communities and Nigeria at large.

Eze called for responsive and supportive community in the provision of social support to the affected household and survivor to eliminate reported social stigmatisation.

“We are not unaware of the intensity of women subjected to rape, undignified torture, mental and physical abuses on daily basis in all ramifications including armed forces with deliberate silence or pretentious intervention by relevant authority.

“It is worrisome that many Nigerian women have experienced silent physical violence, which encompasses infliction of live-threatening injuries, marital rape and murder, at the hands of their intimate partners; with normalised believe that a husband is justified in beating his wife for a number of reasons.

“Also, physical and psycho-emotional abuse in different settings like homes and schools are known to manifest as anxiety disorders and depression among women and adolescent girls”, she added.