WARIF intensifies marketing campaign in opposition to GBV in Akwa Ibom, urges victims to talk up

Women At Risk International Foundation, (WARIF) has continued to advocate against Gender Based Violence, especially Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) as well as other harmful practices in Akwa Ibom State.

It urged victims to speak up and report to relevant authorities in their local communities as there are available laws to give them succor and punish offenders.

Recall that WARIF in partnership with UN Women through the UN-Leap Project had on May 8 trained traditional rulers and faith leaders in Uyo on dangers of GBV, after which the Traditional Rulers Council in turn had an open declaration for the abolition of all forms of violation against anyone, especially women and children.

To solidify the declaration, the Program Lead of WARIF, Adeola Potts-Johnson, who spoke with newsmen at the end of a sensitization walk in Uyo during the weekend, said phone numbers have been made available for not only victims of GBV but everyone to call in and report related incidents for prompt action .

Johnson therefore encouraged traditional and faith leaders to spearhead the awareness campaigns and advocacy efforts in order to dismantle harmful gender norms and practices in their local communities and churches.

She said, “This initiative is designed to assess the commitments made by traditional and faith leaders in Nigeria to end violence against women and girls (VAWG) and eliminate harmful cultural practices.

“It’s not just only about the declaration we had in May, but to see it documented and implemented. We carried out a dialogue with community leaders, youth leaders across the four clans in Uyo, giving out our fliers to talk about dangers of gender based violence, what it is and numbers they can call in response to these vices if you see them. We want to ensure that people at the grassroots also get that information.”

The village head of Ikot Ntuen Oku, Eteidung Nsikan Ikpe, who represented the Paramount ruler of Uyo, Edidem Sylvanus Okon, said the people have been sensitized on the implications of indulging in any form of gender based violence including rape, battery and defilement. He added that sanity had returned to the communities.

“There is a lot of impact after the declaration. Everybody is now cautious and we always encourage people to report to village heads, family heads, youth leaders or any authority issues of abuse,” he said.

The Youth Leader, Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Akwa Ibom State chapter, Pastor Mfon Umoh admitted the high level of GBV in the society and urged WARIF to sensitize the people on the dangers of GBV even as he noted that churches are working hard in preaching against GBV during their meetings and conventions.

Speaking, Nkechi Udoh, the desk officer for the UN Women LEAP Project in the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare, said GBV remains a capital offense and should not be condoned.

She disclosed that people have been coming out to speak and report cases of GBV following the level of awareness so far, adding that more sensitization needs to be done to encourage others to come out.

“People are coming to make reports and even just today somebody came and reported. Victims were actually staying back because of stigma, because of labeling, and because most of the perpetrators make them do some nasty things, take some substance just to instill fear. There’s that fear factor in them.

“So my advice, my suggestion is that they should be brave enough, not just for themselves, to fight for the others. Because of they do not speak out, that violence will continue. That person may continue violating him or her and will continue doing it to others.”