Conspiracy of silence, barrier to ending SGBV in N/East – CDD
The Center for Democracy and Development (CDD), a non-governmental organisation, has identified silence as a major bane towards eradicating Sexual and Gender-based Violence (SGBV) in North-East.
CDD Gender Adviser, Dr Amina Nur-Alkali stated this on Wednesday in Maiduguri at a one-day community sensitisation organised to mark the 2023 International Women’s Day.
The 2023 IWD theme is “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality”.
Nur-Alkali said that women were unwilling to speak out about their experience, adding that, “the victims are being blamed, denied help or told to stop talking.
“This will further amplify brutal physical and psychological consequences for survivors as they are exposed to trauma, stigma, and as a result denied justice”.
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According to Nur-Alkali, the CDD programme is designed to create awareness on SGBV, discourage the culture of silence, reduce stigma and enhance access to justice for survivors.
Also speaking, the Coordinator, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in Borno, Jummai Mshelia expressed concern over the inability of government at all levels to domesticate gender and equality law.
She said domestication of the gender and equality law would reduce SGBV in the society.
Mshelia advised women to seek justice through relevant authorities when their rights are violated.
For her part, Mugwa Kambasha, Chairperson, Stand Up for Women Society, advised victims of SGBV to keep evidence to hasten prosecution of offenders.
“The first step, is to take survivors to hospital and in doing that they should not do it all alone, they should also go with the police.
“After clinical analysis, it is the duty of the police to forward the case to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
“The corganisation will pursue the case to logical conclusion, we go to court to ensure that women get justice,” she said
