by FIDAFIDA Nigeria Cries Out Against the Rise in Gender Based Violence
FIDA shouts out, “STOP ALL forms of violence against persons”! Enough is Enough! The COVID-19 lockdown is not an excuse for gender-based violence!
FIDA Nigeria expresses great dismay at the continuous rise in gender-based violence cases reported during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in Nigeria, often resulting in grievous bodily harm, psychological trauma and even death.
The facts of the reported cases across Nigeria are heart wrenching. Some these cases include (to mention a few):
Lagos – A 16- year old girl, Tina Ezekwe, shot to death by police; negligence leading to the death of a baby precipitated by a male partner.
Edo- A 22- year old University of Benin student, Uwaila Vera Omozuwa, raped and killed in a church.
Ondo- Tope Onifade, whose two daughters were defiled by their father who claimed the cause of their bleeding was as a result of dysentery ailment.
Osun- The headless naked bodies of a woman and her child left in a gutter.
Enugu- Baby Ebube Christy Umeh violently abused with a razor blade by a neighbour; and a woman who battered her 6 months old child with razor cuts because his father refused to marry her.
Bayelsa – A baby rescued from trafficking by his young mother.
Cross River – Chioma, a 14-year-old, raped by her landlord’s son who is a 31-year-old father of three children
Jigawa- A 12- year old girl raped by 11 men.
Osogbo- Mother tied her son in a sack and left him in her wardrobe for three days for stealing
Bauchi- A girl child bride (wife) stabbed her husband to death so she could return to her parents.
Yobe- Halima, whose hand was cut off by her husband for not taking permission to go out to attend a wedding.
FIDA condemns these daily gory tales of GBV which is indicative of a debased society bereft of a value system that emphasizes safety at home or even in worship centres, from parents, spouse or even police. This must change as the consequences and effects on the victims and their families have long term negative impact on society.
It is unacceptable that the police mandated to arrest and prosecute are presently not forth coming, leaning on compliance with COVID-19 regulations, which include social distancing in their stations and the decongestion of cells, as an excuse. They would rather push parties for a prompt settlement and compensation of the victim for an offence, regardless of the severity of such offence.
The Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act 2015, is a landmark legislation on the prohibition of all forms of violence against persons in Nigeria. The Act prohibits all forms of violence against persons in private and public life, and provides maximum protection and effective remedies for victims and punishments of offenders. Therefore, all stakeholders should call for a stop against all forms of violence against persons especially women, children and the vulnerable in our society!
FIDA calls to immediate action the following:
The Public– Closely watch children/wards and protect them so they are not raped or abused; adults to avoid antagonizing each other, especially when there are already underlining issues with abuse; be tolerant and accommodating; report cases of violence and do not stigmatize victims or shame them, or insist that they forgive offenders so to prevent their prosecution; and stop excusing offenders claiming that it is the “devil at work”; insist on punishing offenders for their offence.
The Police– Safe guard and protect the people; keep open all gender desks at each police station to accommodate reports on domestic violence and make quick responses/intervention when called; be understanding when dealing with victims; prosecute the offenders and do not compel settlement of cases.
The Government – Provide the requisite, infrastructure, equipment etc., to ensure citizens are adequately protected; enable the police to carry out their functions; set up special dedicated courts for the trial and prosecution of gender based offenders during the lockdown to send a clear warning to all; equip and enable the Judiciary to sit regularly during the lockdown to attend to such GBV matters; provide more shelters for the care and protection of victims; enable and support stakeholders collaborative rapid response teams for GBV across states.
Stakeholders– Better collaboration and coordination between all stakeholders and provision of one-stop centres for rapid response on GBV across states.
FIDA Nigeria is committed to providing legal support to the vulnerable. So, let’s work together to ensure that all offenders are brought to justice and adequately punished in line with our laws so it serves as a deterrent to others. RAPE is certainly not a family matter; it is an OFFENCE! We all have a role to play in ending the rape culture in our society. Let’s demand accountability and through our actions, say an unequivocal NO TO RAPE!
FIDA strives to bring to an end, the violence, abuse, exploitation and violation of women and children which has become very rampant in our society, especially during the COVID-19 lockdown.
If you or someone you know is experiencing such domestic violence, please report the case or contact FIDA Nigeria’s hotline- 07088496115.
Stay Strong, Stay Safe!
Stay at home, but Stop the abuse!
Stand against rape and the culture of silence!
Signed for FIDA Nigeria
Rhoda Prevail Tyoden
Country Vice President/National President
FIDA Nigeria
Eliana Martins
National Publicity Secretary
FIDA Nigeria
by FIDATHE EMBASSY OF SWITZERLAND
Mitigation of Gender Based Violence through the Training of Community Paralegals in the Federal Capital Territory: The project will be implemented in two communities each of Abuja Municipal Area Council, Bwari and Kuje area councils. It is designed to train 10 women in each of the aforementioned area councils on basic human rights principles and the protection offered to women and girls in the VAPP Act.
by FIDAFIDA Webinar 2: “Stakeholders Discourse on Protecting Women and Children during the Covid-19 Pandemic”
As part of FIDA Nigeria’s intervention strategies during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown, a Second WEBINAR was hosted on May 29, 2020, themed “Sharing experiences: Stakeholders Discourse on Protecting Women and Children during this Pandemic”
The purpose was to bring together key stakeholders to enable them share their experiences so we can collectively adopt new strategies to protecting the vulnerable during these precarious times
Discussants:
- Jacinta Ike (FCT SGBVRT)
- Ijeoma Amugo (NAPTIP)
- Dr. Minnie Oseji (MWAN)
- Chief Magistrate Adefunke Anoma (Family Court)
- Dr Fatima Akilu (NEEN Foundation) and
- Evelyn Membere-Asimiea (FIDA Nig)
Key take home points and expectations going forward included the following:
- The need for greater Sensitization on the VAPP Act
- Ensure prosecution of all GBV cases; no settlement
- Need for more collaboration by all stakeholders
- Break the culture of silence and stigmatization
- Take advocacy to the men and youth to stop VAW
- Position ourselves to be there for increased numbers of defiled and or abandoned children, teen age pregnancies etc.
- The need for greater counseling for offenders and victims
- Physcho – social intervention necessary; punishment must be combined with treatment
- More one stop intervention centers to be set up across the states
- Hotlines for easy access this period
- The need for the training of paralegals to assist at the grassroots for quick intervention
Rhoda Prevail Tyoden,
FIDA Nigeria CVP, the hostess for the program encouraged greater collaboration and quick responses by all stakeholders when called upon despite the several challenges of the lockdown.
The WEBINAR was moderated by Mrs. Eliana Martins FIDA Nigeria National Publicity Secretary. A total of one hundred and seventy persons were virtually in attendance.
by FIDAFIDA Nigeria, Webinar 1 Summary
FIDA Nigeria hosted her first webinar on May 14, 2020. It was themed. “Pandemics and the Protection of Women and Children using the tool of Law: The Covid-19 Experience”
Rhoda Prevail Tyoden, FIDA Nigeria CVP was the host, while Evelyn Membere-Asimiea FIDA Nigeria National Secretary was the moderator of the webinar.
The purpose was to expose how the Laws we have can be used as a veritable tool in safeguarding the rights of women and Children during Pandemics using the Covid-19 as a case study. (looking at it from the angles of the judiciary, the bar, the academic cycle and the civil society organizations)
FIDA Nigeria collaborated with her Partners
Global affairs Canada and ActionAid Nigeria in organizing this webinar.
Key speakers where
1. Hon. Justice Elizabeth Ama Oji
2. Dele Adesina, SAN
3. Professor Ine Nnadi
4. Nkechi Ilochi Omekede
The Target group was Legal practitioners, CSOs especially Feminists groups, Psychosocial therapists and practitioners.
Key take home points and expectations going forward include:
- The need for a consistent drive and push to ensure effective implementation of the plethora of laws that we have – FIDA is to therefore embark on more sensitization of the existence of these laws.
- NBA/FIDA Nigeria to come up with draft laws to push for more proactive ways of ensuring the proper enforcement of the existing laws
- The need for FIDA Nigeria to collaborate more with critical partners to ensure that issues concerning women and children are brought to the fore.
- The need for more funding for CSO’s to effectively intervene and ensure for the effective protection of the vulnerable and PLWD
In conclusion FIDA Nigeria looks forward to more collaborations particularly with the NBA and other CSO’s and NGO’s
There were a total of two hundred and seventy persons virtually in attendance.
by FIDAPartnerships and Collaborations
FIDA LAGOS since this lockdown, has been collaborating with the police, WAPA, especially the director in charge of domestic violence, Mrs. Olorufemi, Domestic & Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT) and other NGOs like STAND TO END RAPE(STER) INITIATIVE etc. on GBV cases.
Ekiti branch is in collaboration with the Gender Desk Officer of the Nigerian Police Force Ekiti, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, the S.A. Gender to the Wife of the Governor and some other partners to deal with all cases of GBV during this pandemic.
FIDA OYO enjoys the partnership of the Child Protection Network(CPN), Oyo State GBVRT, NAWOJ, MWAN, JDPC and some other bodies.
FIDA AKWA-IBOM and TARABA are part of their State’s COVID-19 CSOs team to help in sensitizing the public and reporting challenges caused by the pandemic.
FIDA BAYELSA also enjoy good synergy with the Governor’s wife and the Police in curbing GBV cases.
FIDA CROSS RIVER in collaboration with other CSOs have held a virtual meeting proposing measures on how to assist the Ministry of Women Affairs to deal with GBV cases during this pandemic.
by FIDAAction Aid
As part of efforts to promote and protect the rights of Women and Girls in Nigeria, FIDA Nigeria, with funding from @ActionAidNigeria through the Women’s Voice and Leadership Nigeria Project, announces the commencement of a 5-year Project in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja with focus on capacity building of networks, groups, associations and movements of women’s organization to create cultural, political and legislative change with a view to achieving increased effectiveness of sub-national, national and platform, networks and alliances to affect policy, legal and social change in Nigeria. This project is fully supported by Global Affairs Canada.@CanHCNigeria
by FIDAWorkers Day 2020
FIDA Nigeria salutes all Frontline medical and other essential service workers; we also celebrate women working tirelessly to progress in their various fields, despite the great challenges and set backs they encounter; yet courageously defying the odds to accomplish great success. You are an inspiration and we celebrate you!
Stay Happy, Stay Safe
by FIDAFIDA Edo distributes palliatives to indigent women and children
FIDA Nigeria, Edo State Branch distributed items as palliative to indigent women in the society to alleviate the hardship occasioned by the novel Corona virus pandemic and also issued press statements decrying the increase in domestic violence and child abuse owing to the stay at home directive as a precaution to stop the spread of COVID-19.
by FIDAFIDA Nigeria’s Statement on the Corona Virus Pandemic (COVID – 19)
FIDA Nigeria extends her warm heartfelt felicitations to everyone at this most difficult time of the Corona Virus Pandemic, where great countries are being brought to a standstill and the continuous reports of sickness and deaths are overwhelming.
The fight to survive is real for everyone (countries and individuals alike) and the reliance on government and the health sector to urgently do the needful and overcome this pandemic is indeed a great burden that must be lifted without delay
The government must rise up to its responsibility to her citizens particularly to provide health care, basic amenities and security, just as citizens on their own part must cooperate with government so that in the shortest of times and with minimal casualties we can overcome as a nation
At this most difficult time, FIDA Nigeria empathizes with everyone, being that in one way or another, we are all affected whether it is through the loss of a loved one, or the many challenges of isolation, quarantine, the loss of jobs and income, the sense of frustration and fear, or the feeling of hopelessness and despondency, the lack of proper shelter and amenities, the inadequacy of the health care facilities, the children and youth out of school, the list goes on and on…it is well with us all as no one is truly alone.
We encourage everyone to have the right attitude, there is indeed a time for everything, therefore please focus on the positives, which include the opportunities presented at this time, to help, to reflect, to read, to reconnect, to encourage, counsel, to do the pending things on your To-Do list, etc. Think outside the box, what can you do help your family, neighbor, community and State, (even if it is just to stay at home and observe social distancing).
This positive attitude is preferred, rather than focusing on the disruption of your program, what you have lost or what you cannot have at this time; then taking advantage of the vulnerable, inflation and the creation of artificial scarcity of necessary items, etc. All this cannot help you or society. Rather, remember to count your blessings and be thankful regardless of all the issues around you for it could always be worse.
FIDA, therefore, appeals to everyone to obey all the rules and guidelines issued by the relevant government authorities. Be vigilant and careful, be safe; as your family and community need you.
FIDA Nigeria cares about the wellbeing of the family and society, particularly the vulnerable in it.
Closely watch your children/wards and protect them so they are not raped or abused; Adults in confined spaces must avoid antagonizing each other especially when there are already underlining issues with emotional and physical abuse; ensure also that there is no stigmatization of the sick, they need care and protection.
We charge Government (whether Local, State, or Federal) to do its part in providing the necessary medical care and facilities for its citizens especially the vulnerable in society; ensure adequate medical facilities in close proximity to the people, ensure easy protocols to be observed so it’s not too cumbersome for people who are already vulnerable, keep people at the grassroots properly informed (in simple understandable language); Provide continuous water and electricity supply and security for people and their property at this trying time, provide proper and adequate palliatives that would reach those really in need
FIDA applauds and commends State Governments who have been most proactive at this time. Thank you for your responsible governance.
FIDA Nigeria is committed to providing legal support to the vulnerable. Together we are strong and can overcome any challenge as a family and a nation.
#StaySafe!
Rhoda Prevail Tyoden
Country Vice President/National President
FIDA Nigeria
Eliana Martins
National Publicity Secretary
FIDA Nigeria