NGOs seek more actions to mitigate GBV

NGOs seek more actions to mitigate GBV

Three different Non-Governmental Organizations have called for more prevention and protective actions to end Gender Based Violence (GBV) in the society.

Officials of the NGOs, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday, during separate interviews in Benin, said that more interventions are needed to mitigate GBV.

Stella Ojemen, Coordinator, Child Protection Network, Edo, reiterated the need for the establishment of special courts to handle GBV cases.

Ojemen said, “We are seeking to achieve quick dispensation of justice and we believe that cases of GBV will be handed faster in special courts.

“The outcome will be quicker and messages will go round faster that it is no more business as usual for perpetrators of GBV”.

On her part, Dr Nosa Aladeselu, Executive Director, Africa Women Empowerment Guild, harped on the need for all hands to be involved in the implementation of prevention and protective actions against GBV.

“We want everyone to be involved in the areas of creating awareness about GBV, reporting cases and also in ensuring justices for the survivors.

“Young people should not be scared to speak out against GBV irrespective of the closeness of the perpetrator to the survivor.

“Most violated children find it difficult to be functional in the society when they become adults and we do not want this to continue,’’ she said.

Also, Louisa Eikhomun-Agbonkhese, founder, Echoes of Women in Africa, called on the Ministry of Education to include sex education in the school curriculum.

Eikhomun-Agbonkhese also suggested that provision of trained counselors should be made compulsory in every school.

She added that proper monitoring of children and wards by caregivers is key in addressing GBV.

“Parental absence from home has left many children victims of sexual predators who are close family members, neighbours with few being strangers.

“Studies indicate the likelihood that a molested child will grow up to molest others is greater than 50 per cent,’’ she said.