Gender-based Violence: Foundation solicits $25m for victims

READ ALSO:Gender Based Violence: UN Women, Partners call for joint action

Oyabobola spoke at the launch of 16 Days Activism Against Gender-Based Violence in Nigeria held in the Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State. A movie campaigning against gender-based violence, Chatroom, was screened at the event.

She said, “We are establishing a trust fund for a gender-based foundation and I am glad Sterling One is a part. We are trying to create more awareness about gender-based violence. It is a pandemic and a life-threatening issue. We have collaborated with Access Bank, MTN, Sterling One and the UN to curb this issue. The proposed budget is $25m and the money will be used to help victims of all kinds of abuse. The fund will be managed by UN Women. The program is about awareness, prevention and to prosecute the perpetrators of abuse in order to ensure that justice is served.”

The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, said the state government was focused on preventing sexual violence rather than providing post-care for victims.

He said, “What Lagos State government is trying to do is to pay more attention to the prevention of violation and abuse rather than the treatment. Rape is part of a society. The Lagos state government is currently building one of the biggest hospitals and some of the properties include 15 hectares of land and 500 rooms that will help to reduce and treat sexual violence victims.”

The Head of Public Enlightenment Unit, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, Fredrick Uche, urged the public to call NAPTIP’s hotline to report cases of human trafficking.

“NAPTIP is against rape. We have a programme called ANTIFAT. It is a program organised to educate people against violence and trafficking in person. We encourage people to open up. NAPTIP has a toll-free hotline, which is 627. Call the number if you notice anything suspicious in relation to trafficking”, he added.

PUNCH/Wumi