Communities in Enugu State have been advised to design response systems for rape and other Sexual and Gender-Based Violence.
They have also been told to mainstream Sexual and Gender -Based Violence (SGBV) issues into community events especially in the area of safety and security.
A resource person at a Community Dialogue on Involving Men in Ending Sexual and Gender Based Violence in Enugu State today (Saturday 5th September 2020) at Umuchigbo Iji-Nike Community, Mr. Larry Oguego stated these during the event organized by Women Information Network (WINET).
He said it is important to train boys and girls in to understand the issues about violence against women and girls in the society because there are laws such as the Enugu State Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law 2019 that protects victims.
According to Mr. Oguego, no one who does something wrong especially perpetrating violence against women and girls should be allowed to go free.
He said people should be made to face the consequences of their actions and emphasized that it is the duty of men and boys to protect women and girls.
The Executive Chairman, Umuchigbo Iji-Nike Community, Honourable Kenneth Mbah said that he would organize a similar dialogue for a larger number of community members to be sensitized on Sexual and Gender Based Violence.
Mr. Mbah said that the community has in a place taskforce where people report cases. He expressed delight that WINET visited his community to enlighten the men on Sexual and Gender-Based violence which is very prevalent in the society now.
Earlier, the Executive Director of Women Information Network (WINET) Mrs. Miriam Menkiti said that her organization is involving men and boys in their campaign to end sexual and gender-based violence in Enugu State because they are mainly the perpetrators of SGBV.
She said men have a role to play in ending the scourge. Mrs. Menkiti said the WINET project titled Sustained Enlightenment Campaign to end Sexual and Gender Based Violence in Enugu State is with a view to achieving increased enjoyment of human rights by women and girls and the advancement of gender equality.
She stated that the community dialogue was organized under the Women’s Voice and Leadership (WVL) Nigeria Project, fully supported by ActionAid Nigeria with funding from Global Affairs Canada.