Group Takes Campaign Against Rape To Anambra Streets, University

Awka – The African Child Social Empowerment Center, ACSEC on Tuesday called on stakeholders in the society to work concertedly towards intensifying sensitization on rape and sexual abuse, to arrest the ugly trend and its menace to the society.

The group made the call during a one- day campaign against rape and other sexual abuses in Awka, Anambra State Capital.

The event which had as its theme, “Stop Rape Now”, climaxed with lectures at the auditorium of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.

It had kickstarted with a sensitization walk within the school premises and environs, as participants bore placards with different inscriptions such as ‘Men Get Raped, Don’t Stigmatise Against Me because I spoke up, it wasn’t my fault’, ‘stop rape now’, ‘Stop Raping Our Women and Children, ‘Consent is paramount’, among others.

The programme is a partnership initiative between ACSEC and Anambra state Ministries of Women and Children Affairs, Basic Education, Health, and Justice.

Other partners include, the Public Complaint Commission, Anambra State Command of the Nigerian Police, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, International Federation of Women Lawyers, FIDA among other agencies.

Speaking, the Founder of ACSEC who is also the State Commissioner for Lands, Mr. Bonaventure Enemali appreciated stakeholders who have been at the fore front of the campaign against the menace and thanked participants for believing that rape and sexual abuse need to be stopped.

He pointed out that recently, AMNESTY International reported that Nigeria records eleven thousand rape cases annually, noting that the project commenced during his National Youth Service Corps days in Sapele.

“It is a good thing that we are getting stakeholders commit to ending this monster called rape in our society.

“Rape is a crime against humanity.

“No matter the colouration it is given, we must rise and fight it now because the dangers and effect on the society are quite enormous,” he said.

The Executive Director of ACSEC, Miss Chisom Augusta hinted that the event is their first program in Anambra state having operated in Lagos for over a decade.

According to her, rape is soaked with blood, pain and stigma and the campaign is meant to educate and encourage people to say something when they experience such.

“The evil silence whenever rape happens, is the reason why the monster has grown in the society.
“Speaking up will ensure that perpetrators are apprehended and the cycle ends.

“So let us encourage victims to speak up and not stigmatize those who do,” she pleaded.

The Anambra Commissioner Children and Women Affairs, Lady Ndidi Mezue represented by Barrister Adaora Okoye who acknowledged that there is greater advocacy about rape in recent times, stated that the Nigerian law has been updated to provide that even oral sex or kissing is now regarded as rape.

While frowning at the society’s posture of objectifying women, she requested parents to begin to teach their children not to touch people without their permission as a way of stamping out rape in the society.

Dr. Okey Achigbo who represented the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Vincent Okpala encouraged people to indulge in sexual activities with only their spouses, emphasizing that apart from physical complications, sexually transmitted diseases, unwanted pregnancy, stigma as well as psychological implication, rape is disastrous to the society.

Speaking through Barrister Ndirika Onyekwelu, the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Uju Nworgu described rape as an age long offence, stating that it can be minimized, if emphasis is made on its seriousness and severe consequences, while the Anambra State Commander of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Florence Ezeonye represented by Dr. Chinwe Thomson revealed that according to UNICEF, one in every four Nigerian girls is sexually assaulted before the age of eighteen.

She mentioned a popular rape drug usually put in people’s drinks to make them drowsy and unconscious, emphasizing that usually, it makes girls unable to conceive when they get married, calling on people to flee from people who use drugs including methamphetamine, popularly called ‘mkpurumiri’.

African Child Social Empowerment Centre, (ACSEC) is a non-governmental, non-profit and Social Organisation focused on children, youth and community development.

Question and answer, experience sharing sessions featured at the event while President of International Federation of Female Lawyers, Professor Oguguo Ikpeze, Professor Uba Nwuba and the police also lent their voices to the subject matter which they described as cancerous to the fabrics of the society.

 

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