WABMA Urges More Action Against SGBV

Franklin Ebuka, Awka

Amid the rising cases of Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in the Southeast Nigeria, the WABMA Foundation has called for a coordinated and concerted efforts towards curbing the scourge.

The Community Mobilisation Officer, WABMA Foundation, Barrister Nnenna Anozie, made the call in Awka, Anambra State capital on Tuesday, during a Community Engagement Programme on SGBV prevention.

Anozie said it’s high time, community leaders, the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), the media, security agencies, government policymakers and other stakeholders worked synergistically to evolve far-reaching measures aimed at curbing Sexual and gender-based violence.

During the engagement, stakeholders highlighted conspiracy of silence, poor investigation and financial demands by security agencies, lack of support for CSOs, non-disclosure of violations by victims, ignorance of the victims, protection of family name, poor upbringing of the boy child, undue interferences by influential members of the society, among others as the challenges mitigating against the fight against SGBV.

They resolved that to record more successes in the fight against SGBV, there is the need to increase sensitisation and public awareness on sexual and gender-based violence.

Additionally, the stakeholders proposed the setting up of help lines for reporting gender based violence, naming and shaming of perpetrators, creation of a safe space for victims to open up, reformation of the justice system, unbiased investigation and professionalism by security agencies, training of women and interest groups on gathering and preservance of evidence, community based action against SGBV and adequate funding of CSOs works on gender based violence.

The one-day engagement of leaders of faith and culture in the Southeast on Combating SGBV had participants drawn from the CSO, community leaders, market women, media, the clergy, the police.

Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) is an umbrella term for harmful acts of abuse and violence committed against a person because of his or her sex or gender.

It is forcing another person to do something against his or her will through violence, coercion, threats, deception, cultural expectations, or economic means.