By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
Lagos-based non-governmental organisation (NGO), Project Alert on Violence Against Women, on Wednesday May 27, in conjunction with Spotlight Initiative, held a community capacity building workshop for CSOs, rights groups, skilled workers/artisans associations, representative of CDA’s and pressure groups on “Sexual And Gender Based Violence (SGBV)”.
The workshop held in Makoko community, a satellite town in Yaba area of Lagos, was attended by 60 male participants drawn from the community. They were divided into three batches for three sessions of 20 participants for each session.
It was a UN sponsored programme with the aim to eliminate violence against women and girls.
The SGBV workshop in Makoko was one out of many series that would be organized by Project Alert/Spotlight Initiative in about nine (9) local government areas across Lagos state.
The main thrust of the workshop was to educate and enlighten the participants that it is important and obligatory to protect women and girls against domestic violence and sexual abuse/ harassment, and is also the responsibility of the community to respond to Sexual And Gender Based Violence by reporting or referring any case or incidence of domestic violence or rape to Referral Centers/offices for appropriate actions and/or remedies.
The workshop with the theme “Prevalence of Sexual And Gender Based Violence in Communities and Steps to take including Referrals” was presented by the resource person Dr Princess Olufemi-Kayode, a sexual and gender based response expert and criminal justice psychologist.
In her presentation she defined what domestic violence and rapes are. The physical, mental and psychological effects of the vices on the victims. She spoke on the legal implications, advocacy and remedies. She cautioned men to always control their anger and not descending on their wives and children on any provocation, especially for men who are always drunk.
” Do not beat your wives or rape them. Men should control themselves. You have no excuse to beat a woman”
“In an excessive anger or worst scenerio, the man should walk out and stay till temper cools down.”
Dr Olufemi-Kayode urged the participants to carry the message and campaign of ‘No to domestic violence and rape ‘ to their community, neighborhood, friends and associations.
“Go out and spread the message of ‘No more violence to your wives, No more rape to your wives and girlfriends – for the unmarried. Do not force your wife for sex. These are the essence of the workshop.
The presenter drew the attention of the participants to the SGBV referral list on Yaba, Lagos Mainland Local Government Area where they can make reports or lodge complaints for remedies. Some of the Referrals are: The Lagos State Domestic & Sexual Violence Response Team; Ministry of Women Affairs & Poverty Alleviation; Office of the Public Defender; National Human Rights Commission and Project Alert on Violence Against Women, amongst others.
Earlier in his opening and introductory remarks, a Project Officer with Project Alert Mr Temidayo Adeyemi said that the capacity building workshop organised by Project Alert is to create more awareness on the rampant domestic violence and rape and how to put a stop to it.
He described MAN as ‘Manifesting Anger Naturally’. He cautioned men against MAN and advised them to control their anger when it manifests.
“Marriage is not a death sentence. If you can manage it, please endure, but if you cannot contain it, discontinue. It is not a do or die affair.
He charged the participants to report any incidence of domestic violence to the appropriate quarter.
“You are now the Watchmen in the neighborhood. Report anybody beating the wife with or without mentioning your name. You can be an anonymous person.
Stickers and ‘T’ shirts with various inscriptions such as ‘Marriage is not a death sentence’ , ‘Say No to Domestic Violence’ and others written in local language were shared to the participants.