An NGO, Women’s Rights and Health Project (WRAPH), says it has embarked on Town Hall meetings in six Local Council Development Areas (LCDA) in Alimosho area of Lagos State, to curb sexual and gender-based violence.
Its Executive Director, Mrs Bose Ironsi, made this known on Thursday at a Town Hall meeting held at Mosan Okunola LCDA in Lagos.
Ironsi said: “WRAPH is a foremost organisation, promoting sound health, equal rights and development for women, young people and communities to tackle Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) and increase reporting in Alimosho.
“WRAPH, with support from the EU funded Rule of Law and Anti-corruption (RoLAC) programme, managed by the British Council in Nigeria, is facilitating the Town Hall meetings across the six LCDAs.
“It is part of its project titled: ‘Increasing Access to Justice Related Services Project’ to mobilise communities for the uptake of justice-related services for survivors of SGBV.”
She said the project had launched its resource centre, Ireti Resource Centre, to support the vulnerable people and SGBV survivors.
According to her, this is to offer them free services, trained 100 police officers and 300 community mandated SGBV reporters from 30 social structures.
Ironsi said that the meeting was also to train and encourage community members in Alimosho to be actively engaged in the responses and reporting of SGBV.
Commenting, Mr Olufemi Ojo, also the Secretary, Mosan Okunola LCDA, said that WRAPH had drawn participants from all spheres of life.
Ojo, also a participant, said that the participants comprised religious leaders, government officials, market leaders, youths, artisans among others.
He said that essence of the awareness was for the leaders to go back home and teach their followers on the effects of SGBV.
According to him, the leaders are to also encourage the victims to speak up whenever they are being abused.
Ojo said WRAPH brought the awareness to the community through their leaders, adding that it also engage in one-on-one service for victims to get justice.
Also, Mrs Jumoke Rotimi, the Vice-Chairman, Mosan Okunola LCDA, said that the meeting would enlighten women in the areas to know their rights and encourage victims to speak up. (NAN)
