IMO STATE COMMITTEE ON ENDING VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN/GIRLS DECRIES RISING CASES ON GBV

Monday 20th April, 2020Owerri, Imo StateFor Immediate Press ReleaseEnd Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG); Pass the VAPP Bill into LawThe Imo State Committee on Violence against Women and Girls (ISCVAWG) has followed with keen interest the response of Imo State to the COVID 19 pandemic. We applaud some of the steps taken by the Government and other stakeholders to ensure that the novel virus is prevented from escalating in the state. We are a Committee with members across all relevant key Government institutions, NGO/CBOs; traditional and community leaders working to combat violence and promote social justice in Imo State. We deem it necessary to bring to the attention of the government escalating incidences of violence targeting women, girls and minors under 18 years. The committee is concerned at the growing number of violent acts across the state as a result of the lock-down measures initiated by the State. We are worried at the unprecedented spike in incidences of rape, defilement, battery and molestation of minors, by perpetrators who may be relatives or with access to victims. The Imo State Committee on Violence against Women and Girls (ISCVAWG) hereby appeals to members of the state assembly to immediately pass the VAPP bill into law, to protect persons against sexual and gender-based violence. The Violence Against Persons Prohibition bill (VAPP) is currently before the Imo State House of Assembly and countenance protection of people whether male or female. The Committee thereby calls on the Imo State Government to:Include Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) and VAWG care as part of essential services; Ensure that awareness and prevention campaigns are intensified within the 645 communities to demystify the myths and misconceptions on sexual and gender-based violence as well as those of violence against women and girls (VAWG). Such campaigns should be audience specific considering the information needs of children, women, girls, and women with disabilities;Pay attention to sudden reports of rape, molestation and defilement of minors, wife battering, and violence across the 27 LGA, and take measures to protect people in the state; We call for the creation of a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) in Imo State such as exists in Lagos and Ekiti states where victims of rape are provided with all necessary medical treatment including psychological and trauma counselling to be situated in one of the state health facilities such as the Imo State Teaching hospital’. We advocate for the creation of safe homes and shelter for women and girls, where they are rehabilitated and protected from their abusers which should be managed by the State Ministry of Gender and Vulnerable Groups in collaborative synergy with NGO s and CSO s.Already, Lagos state has the Mirabel Centre where victims of rape are rehabilitated while offenders are prosecuted by the state, at no cost to the victims due to the support of international donors we also call for this notable intervention in Imo State. The Ministry of Justice has a role to play in ensuring prosecution of offenders. Further, we appeal to the Inspector General of Police to immediately create desk officers specially trained to handle all issues concerning sexual offenders in every police station, to save victims from discrimination, victimization and mental torture during questioning from untrained personnel. The desk officers will help to coordinate data and statistics, which will in turn enhance the programmatic intervention by the Ministry of Gender and and Vulnerable Groups and other key stakeholders in addressing violence against women, boys, and girls. We appeal to the First Lady of the state, Mrs Chioma Uzodimma and all female political leaders both elected and appointed to take the issue of violence against women and girls seriously, to make the state safer and better. We implore our traditional rulers and community women leaders to join the fight against sexual and gender-based violence by fishing out perpetrators of sexual violence,for prosecution by the Ministry of Justice. There is an urgent need for a synergy between the state government, NGOs/CSOs/CBOs; FIDA; NHRC and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to sensitize, educate, and enlighten people on the evil of rape, molestation, defilement and why it must be recognized and addressed as the criminal offense it is. It is regrettable that after suffering rape, victims are forced into marriage with the perpetrators, because institutions and community have failed to see rape as a criminal act, and that perpetrators must not be rewarded with their victims as wives, because of mental, physical, and psychological torture victims suffer every time they see their violators. We request a review in the existing practice of payment for investigative health service needs by victims of sexual crimes from government hospitals, which is a clog in the wheel of justice.Untill sexual and gender-based violence and violence against women and girls are considered a crime and perpetrators made accountable for their actions, by facing prosecution, they will continue to abuse people especially minors in Imo state.Signed: The Imo State Committee on Violence against Women and Girls (ISCVAWG)#ENDVIOLENCEAGAINSTWOMENANDGIRLS.