Stakeholders at a two-day training for the 21-person committee on sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and primary healthcare providers in Ilorin, Kwara State, have identified family interference as the major factor hindering the campaign against violence against women in the state.
The programme was organised by a non-governmental organisation – Stand To End Rape in partnership with Ford Foundation.
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The stakeholders agreed that the people of the state were reluctant in reporting SGBV cases, especially rape.
“Family interference is hindering the fight against SGBV in the state. People don’t want such cases, especially rape cases reported,” they submitted.
The executive director of STER, Ms Oluwaseun Osowobi, said the recommendations of the stakeholders at the end of the programme included a call on Kwara State government to make available an annual budget for SGBV issues. Such a budget, she said, would be expended on prevention of SGBV cases, logistics and the welfare of survivors.
Osowobi said the stakeholders also resolved to map out modalities on how to encourage the victims and their parents to report SGBV cases to the appropriate quarters.
She added that STER brought the training programme to Ilorin in its bid to partner with stakeholders in bringing an end to SGBV cases in Kwara State.
She encouraged the primary healthcare providers to refer SGBV cases to the Ministry of Justice and security agencies, noting that,” when those involved in sexual violence go scot-free, more people will indulge in the act.”
Source: Leadership Newspaper