By Nsan Ndoma-Neji, Calabar
A not-for profit organization operating in Nigeria under the aegis of the Centre for Gender Economic Initiative, CGE Africa, has advised victims of sexual molestation not to consider suicide as an option, but seek justice until it is served.
Executive Director of the organization, Uchenna Idoko, gave the advice during an interactive session with with our correspondent at the end of of activism ideation meeting held at Channel 45 on Wednesday in Calabar.
The group which focuses on poverty alleviation and gender inequalities through the promotion of women’s enterprise and their role as economic agents, also urged rape victims not to see sexual violence as the end of life.
The Executive Director, who spoke on the topic ‘Gender-Responsive Budgeting for Sexual Violence Prevention and Mitigation,’ charged rape victims to be strong and hopeful, as being a rape victim doesn’t mean that the world has come to an end.
She stressed that plans have reached advanced stage to begin to tell their stories through the use of a theatrical play.
She said, “This meeting is part of our ongoing project titled ‘Gender Responsive Budgeting for Sexual and Gender- Based Violence, SGBV, Prevention and Mitigation’ funded by African Women’s Development Fund, AWDF.
“We feel our story can better be told via short drama.
“The goal of the meeting is to engage stakeholders, government representatives, civil society organizations and sector experts in a conversation about using art as a tool for advocacy.
“We are here to share ideas on developing theatrical play which highlights the importance of preventing and mitigating sexual violence.
“Gather input and insights from participants on this approach, and also to share our project itinerary and to align it with key timeline.”
Earlier, the immediate past chairperson of the Cross River State chapter of the International Federation of Women Lawyers, FIDA, Barr. Ann Awah, said, “All along we have been talking about violence against the girl-child on sexual violence.
“Here we are today, trying to put together a play, something that will bring hope clearly to people who may have the opportunity to watch the small drama that we are trying to put together and convey the story.
“Convey what the girl-child is going through in communities where you have predators of rapists. We are trying to put out their experiences, what the girl-child child might be passing through.
“We are trying to tell the victims that rape is not the end of the world, that if you have suffered rape, you shouldn’t take your life. rather seek for help, go out for help, seek justice and ensure that justice is served. Again perpetrators must be accountable.”
She averred that they took the decision to produce the short play on stage, which is likely to premiere in June this year because the organization has the interest of the girl-child at heart.
She said, “People relate more when they watched something that is like drama on stage. Just like we are told that if you want to hide anything write it on the pages of books.
“We will put the short play on the tik tok and other social media platforms for people to watch and grab our message.
“We want survivors to tell their stories to others so that they can learn. Like the girl we portrayed in the story, she overcame her many troubles and became an ambassador telling victims not to kill themselves because they were raped.”
