Violence Against Women
Source: Daily Independent via AllAfrica
The Coordinator, Women in the New Nigeria and Youth Initiative (WINN), a Non Governmental Organization (NGO) in Borno state, Ambassador Lucy Yunana has said that the increasing cases of rape and other violence against women and girls were attributed to lack of victims and witnesses reporting the matter to relevant authorities for appropriate action.
She said, the fear of victims and parents not to report such cases for necessary action due to believe that society may stigmatize the victim not to get married in future should be disregarded and avoided.
The Coordinator stated these while delivering her speech at a capacity building workshop on Violence Against Women/Girls organized for youth groups which took place at the Women Development Centre, Maiduguri.
She noted with dismay that some men who were over 60 or 70 years old are bent on spiritual motives to molest, harass and even rape a girl of between four and 10 years just to make ends meet, and strongly called on government at all levels, NGOs, families, traditional and religious leaders to play a vital role in the fights against rape and other violence against women and girls in the society.
She explained that WINN is an organization of change with its mission aimed at empowering Nigerian women to change the battered image of the country, eradicating corruption, through enlightenment programmes, training, advocacy and Net workings by its committed members towards supporting women and girls in their difficult situations, including victims of gender violence, creating awareness amongst them to enable them speak out when such act is committed.
The coordinator therefore said, the organization is determined and hope that the judiciary, legislature, police and all law enforcement agencies will give WINN a listening ear and formulate laws to try all perpetrators of violence against women/girls in the society.
She stressed that, WINN in pursuance of its vision and mission in collaboration with NSRP (British Council), wish to create awareness among the public, about violence against women and girls with special interest on the girls, who are more vulnerable or victims of domestic violence in the society.
While presenting her paper, Barrister Fatima Shehu of Ramat Polytechnic Maiduguri, urged participants to report any case(s) of rape and other related violence against women/girls to the nearest police station or relevant authorities in the jurisdiction of the incident, even as she called on girls to desist from indecent dressing which mostly exposed them to danger from rapists
She added that rape which is a dangerous crime to humanity which contributes to the spread of Sexually Transmitted Diseases, (STDs), HIV/AIDS, unwanted pregnancy, stigmatization, psychological disorder among other side effects is detrimental to freedom of Human Rights in the society.