Tobi Darosa(Intern)
A Non-Governmental Organisation, Hope For New Life Organization on Thursday organized a one-day capacity building for young women across different association which focused on training on leadership and reporting of Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV)
Penpushing reports that the training held at the headquarters of the organization at Onikolobo area of Abeokuta,Ogun State Capital was supported by Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC) and Ford Foundation
The first session of the training which was delivered by Mrs Bolatitio Ade-Onojobi was on awareness and sensitization on Gender Based Violence (GBV) and leadership skills, to reduce occurrence of violence against women and girls in the society
Penpushing further reports that the second session which focused on ‘Different Ways of Abuse and Reporting’ was handled by Omotola Ogunnupebi followed with third session with the theme,’Legal Aspect on Sexual Abuses’ treated by Barrister Ayomikun Bamigbade
The Executive Director of Hope For New Life Organization Mrs. Bolatito Ade-Onojobi in her welcome remarks called for the need of women to join hands together in fighting against Sexual Base Violence of all sort against women
Penpushing also reports that she pointed out that violence can come in various ways which include physical, sexual, verbal and economic violence among others, stressing that, number of victims passed through emotional abuse which is the first stage of the bad experience
The Founder of the organization defined sexual violence as forcing a victim to do what she doesn’t want, adding that these include a forced sex against the will of the innocent women and ladies, as well as girl-child.
Penpushing reports that on her part, a guest lecturer Mrs. Omitola Ogunnipebi expatiate further on emotional abuse explaining that 95% of people go through emotional abuse, adding that this occurs from family , boyfriend and girlfriend, and gave example of when a girl goes to a boy’s house and she is being touched.
The lecturer also noted that others area is financial, manipulative, verbal, and explained that on financial abuse, this is when a man refuse to give his wife money all in the name of not wanting her to look elsewhere.
Penpushing reports that she said verbal abuse in most cases leads to physical abuse, speaking ills of a partner, a development which always kills self-esteem, and cautioned women to realise that they need nobody to tell them how beautiful they look or validate their look so that nobody will verbally abuse them.
The Program Coordinator of Tailors Association of Nigeria (TAN) Mrs Bamidele Onokpe in her contributions spoke on abuse between employer and apprentice, adding that ill-treatment being meted out to apprentice is nothing but an abuse
Penpushing also reports that she noted that there are cases where apprentice are forced to pay damaged tools, even when they are not responsible for such error, just as she faulted cruel attitude of some mothers towards their children
The legal practitioner, Ayomikun Onabanjo in her own remarks observed that it is unfortunate many people who suffers sexual abuse do not get justice, adding that this has been traced to the disposition of families who in most cases pull and even target victims as liars
‘The victims are in most cases tagged liars or not believed by those who should be of help. Sexual harassment is not too far from us. One among two or three people has been sexually harassed one way or the other
Penpushing further reports that in educating participants on how to establish case of rape, explained that the first step is that victim do not take a shower, emphassing that in doing contrary evidence which will be of use in court may be washed away.
The lawyer pointed out that evidences such as semen, traces of manhandling and bruises on the skin are relevant in court to prosecute case to a logical conclusion and for victims to get justice, adding that next step is to approach hospital immediately after the incident
‘Get yourself checked and report what happened to the Doctor .Take the step of consulting an NGO like Hope of New Life Organization to help fight against sexual base violence or rape at Hopefornewlife.ogunstate@gmail.com or call 08037273028. Rape is a grievous offence in Nigeria’, she emphasised.
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