Anthonia Omenogoh-Oshiniwe, the President of Kwara Civil Society Organisation (CSO) Platform on Sexual and Gender Based-Violence (SGBV), says the state records between four and five cases of SGBV weekly. Omenogoh-Oshiniwe told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Ilorin that the prevalence rate of Gender-Based Violence was high generally high and Kwara had not not been an exemption. She spoke against the background of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women with the theme: ‘Invest to Prevent Violence against Women and Girl.’ Omenogoh-Oshiniwe underscored the importance of the theme,saying it was a call to service on the need to invest in the female gender. According to her, the organisation records at least four to five cases in a week in the state, while there are several unreported cases. The legal expert, who is also the Director of Theios Caregivers Initiative,said GBV had been rooted in a system of unequal power between male and female genders . She explained that GBV takes the form of physical violence, verbal violence, psychological violence and sexual violence. ‘It also takes the form of socio-economic violence, domestic violence or in intimate relationships,’ she said. Quoting the 2018 National Demographic Health Survey (NDHS), Omenogoh-Oshiniwe submitted that 33 percent of women aged 15 to 49 in Nigeria had experienced physical or sexual violence. She said: ‘24% percent have experienced only physical violence, two percent have experienced only sexual violence, while seven percent have experienced both physical and sexual violence.’ The expert on GBV said the consequences of the violence include but not limited to depression, suicide, murder, sexually transmitted diseases, physical injuries.( temporary and permanent) and unwanted pregnancies. According to her,the phenomenon pf GBV is affecting Nigeria because it is gradually reducing the productivity rate of the country. She added that her organisation had been able to sensitise the society. ‘We also make sure we follow up GBV cases to a logical conclusion and also provide empowerment for survivors. ‘By virtue of our activities, we get called to intervene in cases from communities, security agencies, schools etc ‘As an organisation, we have provided psycho-social support and reintegration back into the society. ‘We will continue to ensure that justice is gotten for survivors. Women and girls need to know that they are not to just sit down, they also need to make impact in home and society building,’ she said.
Source: News Agency of Nigeria