The Network of Reproductive Health Journalists in Nigeria NRHJN has called for the immediate empowerment of survivors of Gender Based Violence to bounce back and be voices against the menace.
A survivor of Gender Based Violence, Mrs Adeola Olabisi Shuaib, sharing her experience amid tears at a panel discussion, said her husband raped her while in the pool of her blood when he had inflicted several machete cuts on her.
She pleaded for assistance for her children’s education among many other requests because she could no longer make use of her hand in her hairdressing profession as a result of the several machete cuts inflicted on her when she was inhumanly assaulted by her husband few years ago.
The Panel discussion which was supported by the StandUp for Women Society, ROTDOW and FARDEF was to commemorate the International Day for the Elimination of Gender Based Violence held on December 10th, 2023 in Akure, Ondo state.
Speaking on the 2023 theme: “Unite, Invest to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls.” moderated by Adenitan Adefisoye, stakeholders called for the support for Adeola Olabisi Shuaib and other survivors out of their traumatic experience.
The Executive Officer of Bon Patrimone Foundation and Orphanage Shelter, Mrs Akinwande Olubunmi advised that such survivor must be going for therapy so that she can know the worth of her value to her children and community and be made a voice against GBV in her community.
The Executive Officer of Tofem Health Foundation, Mrs. Juliet Dada observed the need for encouragement and mentorship for survivors of GBV to bring them out of their traumatised nature and encourage them to see themselves as somebody that can come out and share their experiences.
According to her, women have always been vulnerable to cases of gender based violence and because they have this soft spot for their homes and family, they rather prefer to take on themselves the guilt and blame so it is easy for them to come back pleading even after being abused.
“When people run foul of the law, they should be brought to book regardless of gender and when it has to do with gender based violence, if the abuser is not made to understand that what he has done is wrong, then we will not be making progress in the fight against gender based violence,” she affirmed.
The Head of Anti-Human Trafficking, NSCDC, Ondo State, Mrs Yemi Elizabeth Faboyo, argued that women would better be informed rather than speaking against themselves.
She underscored the need to challenge societal norms that trap women in toxic situations and called for resilience-building in the girl child.
While mentioning that societal change is pivotal in eradicating gender-based violence, Faboyo urged people to stop the stigmatization of gender based violence survivors.
She viewed the need to tone down the societal perception to things that has to do with marriage such that men and women can see themselves as help mates.
Faboyo called for building resilience in the girls ,teaching them the spirit of continuity when there is a challenge so that they can move on and not be despair.
She advised the society not to stigmatize women that come out of toxic relationships so that they can develop courage to quit toxic relationships.
“Women should not be economically handicapped but be empowered. Our mothers should stand up for their children when they are going into relationships. The spouse should see the mothers as somebody that should be respected.” She advised.
She called on young people to stop cohabiting which she observed as one of the root cause of domestic violence.
The Executive Officer of Restoration of Dignity of Womanhood, ROTDOW, Mrs Olabisi Omolona said the theme is a very unique one but that there is the need to educate girls and women on knowing their rights to prevent Gender Based Violence .
She said women are very vulnerable, and should be empowered to exercise their rights as she preaches unity among women to prevent violence.
Omolona urged women and girls to be aware of their rights and be empowered to fight for them, stressing the role of good parenting in instilling moral values.
The President of the National Council of Women Societies, Ondo State Chapter, Mrs Oluwakemi Odusola, appealed to governments for shelters for survivors of gender-based violence, so that they can be safe.
Odusola , who also spoke in an interview advised the media to continue lending their voice for the victims of gender based violence because gender based violence will not stop.
She emphasized on the need for women and girls to be careful and sensitive of their environment and movement, urging parents to be careful and be role model to their children.
Odusola appealed to government on the need for shelter for gender based violence survivors so that they can be safe.
Odusola highlighted the activities of The National Council For Women Societies in assisting gender based violence survivors and vowed that the organization would persist in demanding justice and assistance for survivors.
A media representative, Mr Bolu-Olu Esho from the Daily Independence newspaper, urged collective efforts in the battle against gender-based violence and expressed dissatisfaction with contemporary parenting methods.
He said the media tries covering the faces of the victims when considering the truama that might follow.
“Most people blame the media for reporting such incidence but there’s no way we can run away from it if we are truly pushing for end to GBV, he stated.
He explained that media houses risk mitigation in cases of Gender Based Violence because it will be difficult for the media house to force the prosecutor to bring forth that same case that has been rested.
The head of legal department of the Ondo state Agency Against Gender Based Violence, OSAA-GBV, Barrister John Dada described the theme as a good one but that stakeholders should team up to fight the menace.
He encouraged women to unite and collaborate to effectively combat gender-based violence, emphasizing the indispensable role of the media in the fight.
According to him, there are female magistrates that supports crime indirectly and women have to team up and cooperate to fight against the menace.
“The fight begins from women. Women also plead on behalf of their abusers which is not supposed to be so,” he said
Earlier, in an opening remark, the State Coordinator of NRHJN, Hajia Fatima Muraina, called on citizens to actively demonstrate their commitment to combating gender-based violence.
Muraina emphasized the crucial role of media practitioners in finding solutions to the pervasive problem and urged them to be proactive in case documentation.
While appreciating the stakeholders for their various contributions, the State Secretary of NRHJN , Mrs Dupe Isename reminded stakeholders to be more proactive and ensure that survivors get the maximum support to relieve them from their traumatic situation rather than leaving it on the discussion table.