Household discussions launched in September 1, 2020 by the Coalition of Eastern Non Governmental Organisations, CENGOs, in collaboration with Civil Resource Development and Documentation Centre CIRDDOC in Akwa Ibom State had started yielding positive results, as victims of Gender Based Violence in the communities have gradually but consistently disclosed their experiences to the community educators.
Cases of GBV in the country have been rising in a geometric progression especially during the lockdown in Nigeria occasioned by Covid 19 pandemic. Akwa Ibom State was not left out in this ugly trend as the family unit of the State police command in Ikot Akpanabia, Uyo has been inundated with reported cases of GBV.
But investigation revealed that the unreported cases of GBV which most times affect women and girls are higher particularly at the community level due to fear of stigmatization, cultural practices and family influence even with the domestication of Violence Against Person’s (Prohibition) Act VAPP, in Akwa Ibom State.
Against this backdrop, the NGOs sponsored by Amplify Change coopted community education volunteers who engage in household discussions, enlightening people on the issues of Sexual and Reproductive Health rights as well as issues of GBV.
Five months down the line, the programme has started yielding desired results as many victims have come out of their shells to share their experiences with the community educators on how they’ve been molested, humiliated and sexually abused by their oppressors who in most cases are their spouses.
One of the victims in Oron Local Council of the State who pleaded anonymity had narrated to the educators during the January visit how she was beaten to pulp and stripped naked by her husband over minor misunderstanding, adding that physical attack on her at a slightest provocation has been a recurring decimal in her family.
The victim while admitting that the husband’s family has waded into the matter sought intervention of the NGOs saying that she wouldn’t want to die now, leaving her children motherless.
She narrated amidst tears, “pls you people should help me, my children still dey small, I no wan die now. In fact I am an example of what you people just explained about violence, I’m always afraid because my husband beats and abuses me at the slightest quarrel. He knew that I don’t have any where to go to.
“Last time, he naked me in front of our compound. Though his family has pleaded and asked me to forgive him, yet the humiliation is too much. My husband is a fisherman, he went out to fish.”
Asked if she has made any effort to report to relevant authorities, she said, “where will I find them? I don’t have money to go to police, I can’t do case with him because I don’t have money. That is why I said, you people should help me.”
The educators on that premise made a referral to where the victim could get help.
Another victim of GBV told the team how she felt relieved after narrating her ordeal to them during their December visit and how helpful their advise was for the restoration of peace in her family. She urged them to keep on coming around pending when the programme elapses.
Nevertheless, the household discussions programme in the State has its attendant challenges as heads of households sometimes withheld more information that would guide the volunteers in making referrals.
Apart from demanding for monetary gratifications from volunteers, some participants especially GBV victims would not want their matter to be reported for fear of backlash from families and kinsmen.
Despite all, household discussions program in Akwa Ibom State has provided an enabling environment for survivors to speak up and embark on processes of getting help.
