By Stanley Onyekwere
A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), the Abiodun Essiet Initiative for Girls (AEIG), has stepped up sensitisation on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), as part of the measures to tackle the menace in the society.
AEIG, in its latest engagement with stakeholders, took the anti-SGBV campaign to students in Pyakasa, Lugbe, in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), with call for them to always speak out, so as to break the culture of silence around SGBV in the schools and their communities.
Speaking at a sensitisation seminar on SGBV organised yesterday, for students of the Government Secondary School, Pyakasa, AEIG’s Executive Director, Mrs Abiodun Essiet, noted that it was important to take the sensitisation campaign on SGBV to people at the grassroots, in order to curb preventable death of victims.
She added that the NGO was working with law enforcement agencies to ensure that perpetrators of the act are caught and punished, so as to serve as deterrent to others.
According to her: “Our conversation focused on breaking the culture of silence as a lot of people go through one form of sexual and gender-based without even knowing.
“We also want them to know that these offences are against the law of the land and can be prosecuted in the court.
“That is why we are urging them to speak out, do not be afraid of stigmatisation and report cases to the right authorities”.
Furthermore, the AEIG’s boss reiterated that the organisation would continue to work with community leaders as well as members of the various communities in the Federal Capital Territory, to ensure that the menace is curbed
“We want our communities to be safe for our women and girls, as record has showed that in every three hours, a woman loses her life to one form of sexual and gender-based violence.
“SGBV can be prevented and that is why we are creating awareness to break the culture of silence, so that the students will know what to do when they encounter such acts.
“From our conversation, we have also noticed that bullying is rampant, this is one area we need to work against because it is a form of violence which can lead to the victim committing suicide, if left unattended to.
“It is a serious thing that our organisation will be working on in partnership with the school to see how we can eradicate bullying in the school,” she said.
On his part, Head Boy of the school, Innocent Joshua, appreciated the NGO for the sensitisation as it has exposed the students to the effects of SGBV.
Also speaking, teacher in the school, Anthony Abadum, while appreciating the NGO for the awareness campaign, he said it would go a long way in making the students developing courage to speak out when violated.
The highpoint of the event was the induction and inauguration of some students as Anti-SGBV ambassadors in the school.
