By Justina Auta and Angela Atabo
Palladium Nigeria, an NGO, has called on the media and critical stakeholders on the need to eliminate Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), and Child Early and Forced Marriage (CEFM) in the country.
The organization made the call on Wednesday in Abuja when it trained the stakeholders under its Strengthening Civic Advocacy and Local Engagement (SCALE) project, sponsored by USAID.
Other stakeholders trained were Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Business Member Organisations (BMOs) on reporting Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), and Child Early and Forced Marriage (CEFM).
Mr. Eric Umoru, the Social Protection Adviser, Palladium’s SCALE project, said the exercise aimed at encouraging more reportage, sensitization, and advocacies on policy reforms and implementation that would eliminate SGBV and CEFM cases.
Umoru said the exercise was necessitated due to the increasing cases of SGBV, child early and forced marriage, trafficking in persons and so many other forms of violence in society.
“These cases are increasing because of the spate of insecurity and poverty, which has increased the rate of abuse.
“So we decided to organize this training for these critical stakeholders so that they are better aware of some of the dynamics of abuse and some of the antics that exploiters use in carrying out their cases.
“Following this improved learning, we expect participants to develop reports, and media contents from a trauma-informed perspective on the extent of damage, that SGBV causes to victims,” he said.
Stressing the need for collaboration between key stakeholders, Umoru urged them to amplify their voices on improving policy implementation toward ending violence and harmful practices in Nigeria.
“There are a lot of policies around SGBV and CFM that have not been implemented adequately.
“So they need to, as active stakeholders in response, call out stakeholders to push for reforms and implementation as the case may be,” he said.
Umoru also encouraged media organizations to highlight the drivers, indicators, effects, and long-term effects of violence in their work.
“They should be able to amplify the voices of survivors, where they are not able to speak, they’re able to call out irresponsive government attitudes and behavior that is facilitating that.
“We are localizing the responses by working with local organizations, media practitioners, and grassroots base structures that can help to amplify it.
“So we continue to engage government for accountability and increased great response,’’ he said.
Dr. Maji Peterx, the Country Director, of Equal Access International, described SGBV and CEFM as endemic, hence the need to sensitize the public on its negative impacts on the psyche and societal structure.
Peterx, also a facilitator, said the workshop would raise consciousness around negativities in society and create a system that was more appealing to younger people.
“This is to raise awareness, reconscientise people to increase knowledge about the ills of SGBV,” he said.
Ms. Ene Oshaba, a gender advocate, said the training had further enlightened her on new ways of reporting SGBV, especially the need to understand issues and why people behave the way they do.
“One needs to be very conscious of the fact that our society is context-based and that shapes our attitudes and behavior.
“As a journalist, I have a huge responsibility in changing the narratives with very impactful and issue-based reporting on women and girls.
“Amplifying the voices of women and girls is a key step to finding lasting solutions to their societal challenges,” she said.
Mrs. Maureen Okpe, a gender reporter, said: “We discussed conflict, which we always tie to a negative outcome, but the training made me understand things differently as the conflict in itself is neutral.
“But the outcome which is determined by our response is what makes the difference.
“During the conflict, our response is influenced by so many things by our experience, educational qualification, exposure, and environment; these determine how we react to things,” she said.
