The Women’s Rights and Health Project (WRAHP) has expressed concern that cases of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) remain underreported in Nigeria.
Representatives of the non-governmental organisation (NGO) disclosed this on Monday in Lagos during a courtesy visit to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) office.
Speaking during the visit, Mr Segun Babalola, Senior Programme Officer at WRAHP, said the organisation was intensifying efforts to curb SGBV through awareness campaigns and by educating Nigerians about the laws governing such offences.
He said the NGO had taken the responsibility of simplifying these laws and assist young people and survivors on how to use it to protect themselves.
Babalola explained that the organisation “also promotes the health and general development of women, young people and communities using the right-based approach.
He added that they were in NAN to seek its collaboration to further sensitise Nigerians on the menace of SGBV, citizens’ rights, and the importance of accessible information.
“The media serve as a bridge to reach the public with messages on SGBV awareness, community structures, the culture of silence, and information about the law,” he said.
“We have a center where cases are reported, and the purpose of the center is to deter others from committing such crimes while also supporting the mental health of survivors,” he added.
Babalola noted that the visit to NAN was also aimed at getting feedback on challenges encountered during WRAHP’s work and exploring possible solutions.
Responding, Mrs Ifeyinwa Omowole, Acting Head of Lagos Operations, dispelled the misconception that the media are reluctant to report issues such as domestic violence.
While commending the NGO for its work, she expressed the agency’s readiness of collaboration to sensitise the public of the need for survivors to speak out as victims of violence.
While commending the NGO for its efforts, she expressed the agency’s readiness to collaborate in sensitizing the public on the need for survivors of violence to speak out.
Omowole noted that most of the agency’s senior editorial staff were already experienced and well-versed in reporting issues such as those the NGO was advocating against.
“While you expect us to report your stories, we are also trained journalists who can serve as resource persons during your training sessions.
“You have trained us to the point that we have also become resource persons, and our duty is constitutionally to the public,” Omowole said
