The Women’s Rights And Health Project (WRAHP), a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), has tasked the media on the need for consistent reportage of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) cases to reduce violence against women and girls.
The Executive Director, WRAHP, Bose Ironsi, made the call during a sensitisation meeting for media representatives on effective documentation of reported SGBV cases in Edo on Tuesday in Benin.
The theme of the programme was: “Enhancing Gender Equality and Protection from Gender-Based Violence for Women and Young Girls in Edo.”
Ironsi said the media had the duty to report SGBV cases in ways that would help the government come up with solution-driven decisions.
According to her, nearly three in 10 Nigerian women have experienced physical violence by age 15.
She also quoted the United Nations as saying that 11,200 Nigerian women and girls were raped in 2020.
“As part of efforts to address the SGBV challenges, WRAHP with support from Open Society Foundation implemented a 21-month project in Edo.
“The main objective of the project was to improve women and young girls’ protection from SGBV via the Violence Against Persons (VAPP) Law,” she said.
Ironsi said that the sensitisation meeting for the media was to strengthen reporting pathways for survivors of SGBV.
She urged media practitioners to intensify efforts in creating awareness for the VAPP law as well as its effective implementation.
The Permanent Secretary, Edo Ministry of Gender and Social Development, Mrs Barbra Osobajo, said the core mandate of the ministry was to address SGBV issues in the state.
Represented by Mrs Joy Ihensekhien, Department of Gender Issues, Osobajo said that the interaction with the media was to make them more effective in reporting SGBV cases.
She commended the NGO for the sensitisation meeting, noting that the state government had zero tolerance for SGBV issues.
The highlight of the event was the presentation of copies of the simplified version of the VAPP law to the representatives of the Edo Ministry of Gender and Social Development and Ministry of Justice, among others.