The Lagos State Coordinator of the Child Protection Network, Mrs. Aderonke Oyelakin, has called for collaborative efforts among stakeholders to end Gender-Based Violence (GBV), particularly child sexual abuse, in Nigeria.
Oyelakin, a child rights advocate and counselor, made the call in an interview with a reporter in Lagos on Thursday.
She said governments, teachers, parents, families, communities, religious leaders, and organizations, among others, should step up action on reporting, sensitization, and advocacy about GBV.
According to her, many people are still unaware that laws and penalties exist for child sexual abuse in Nigeria, hence the need for more sensitization.
“Child sexual abuse attracts life imprisonment; there’s no negotiation,” she said.
She explained that addressing GBV requires a holistic approach and a collective effort from everyone in society.
The child rights advocate said that, as part of parenting responsibilities, parents need to start educating their children and wards on sex and related issues from the ages of 12 to 15.
She decried the situation whereby some parents in Nigeria view sex education as an attempt to damage the child’s moral conscience.
According to her, pre-marital pregnancy in Nigeria is the highest in Sub-Saharan Africa due to the lack of early sex education by parents.
“It is important that parents teach adolescents, particularly girls, about their sexual rights to prevent unwanted pregnancies, rape, and other forms of gender-based violence.
“Prevention is better than cure; when we teach adolescents about pre-marital sex, we are giving them information about sexual and reproductive health issues so that they will not fall into the wrong hands,” she said.
She said harmful cultural norms, gender stereotypes, poverty, and weak legal enforcement continue to fuel the persistence of GBV.
According to her, social stigmatization and fear of retaliation often prevent survivors from seeking help, leaving them isolated and vulnerable.
Therefore, she urged stakeholders, including journalists, to amplify advocacy about GBV and to always stand as defenders of human dignity and respect.
She also urged teenagers to seek redress through appropriate channels if they are sexually harassed, saying the Child Protection Network is readily available to assist.
“Everyone has a role to play for the country to stop GBV.
“While governments intensify efforts to strengthen and enforce policy frameworks, traditional leaders should play a pivotal role in shaping the values, attitudes, and behavior of their communities.
“This is important so that collectively, remarkable impacts will be recorded in the fight against GBV,” she said.
