Civil Society Groups and Partners on Ending Sexual and Gender-based Violence (SGBV) in Cross River State, Tuesday, 9th June, 2020, in Calabar, held a peaceful protest calling on the Cross River State government to among other things domesticate the Violence against Persons Prohibition Bill (VAPP).
The group also called on the police to expedite action on the prosecution of a 73-year old retired Army Captain, Bassey Ekanem, who has been alleged to have raped a 4-year-old girl in the Big Qua area of Calabar.
The protesters also called attention to other incidents of sexual-based violence across the country, adding that “55% of women and girls aged 15-49 who have experienced sexual or physical violence in Nigeria do not seek help or support due to stigma, threat, inadequate reporting and referral mechanisms.”
Speaking on the sideline of the Protest, the Executive Director of Neighborhood Care-well Foundation, Ms. Victoria Imama stated that the protest around town was to draw attention to the suffering of women and to demand the end to rape.
Her words, “we want the Government to declare a state of emergency on Sexual and Gender-based Violence. We want people to know that women are not toys and are not object to being toyed with.
“Rape is not good for our society. It is not good for our women. It impels our progress, therefore, today we are calling on the government of Nigeria and Cross River State, in particular, to rise up to the occasion, the state house of assembly to rise up to the occasion and implement laws that are aimed to safe guide the lives of girls.” She added.
On her part, Ms. Comfort Ikpeme of Girls Power Initiative (GPI) said the protest is to “sensitize the public on the issues of rape. We are all saying that let’s stop sexual and gender based violence because it is becoming too much. Of recent times, there have been stories everywhere of sexual abuse and gender violence and this march is aimed at putting an end to it.
In a joint statement signed by all participating organizations, including; Sofadondo, Gender and Development Action (GADA), Network to Curb Sexual Abuse of Girls and Women (NETCUSA), Health Education and Human Rights Advocacy Initiative (HEHRAI), Child Care and Adult Protection Initiative (CAPI), W2Wp amongst others, the group demanded that the Government take decisive action to curb the tide of sexual-based violence in the state.
