WAR AGAINST RAPE: NOA SENSITIZES IKORODU RESIDENTS, INAUGURATES SURVEILLANCE TEAM ~ The Press Tv

In continuation of its Community Dialogues and sensitization of the people of Ikorodu Local Government area of Lagos State on Violence Against Women and Girls, the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Lagos Directorate and United Nations International Children Education Fund (UNICEF) on Wednesday, 10^th of June, 2020 held an inaugural meeting of the Spotlight Initiative Surveillance Team at the conference hall of Humanity Family Foundation For Peace and Development (HUFFPED) in Majiadun area of Ikorodu.

Welcoming participants to the meeting, the Director, National Orientation Agency (NOA) Lagos Directorate, Mr. Waheed Ishola thanked members for coming early and promptly. He commended them for their active participation in the surveillance activities and noted that the import of the inaugural meeting is for the appraisal of all they had been doing and to teach them on how to go about their jobs and the things to actually look out for as forms of violence against women and Girls, especially now that there are much out-cry of Rape issues in the society. He thereafter introduced Mr. Henry Adenigba, Co-Ordinator, Child Protection Network (CPN) as the lecturer of the day.

On his part, Mr. Henry Adenigba who doubles as the Executive Director of Humanity Family Foundation for Peace and Development (HUFFPED) and Co-Ordinator Child Protection Network (CPN) gave his talk on three key areas:

1. Gender Based Violence

2. Child Abuse

3. Documentation of Reports

He defined Gender Based Violence in a broad term, as all practices that degrade women, impair their health and endanger their free lives because of their gender. While it affects male and female, it is used more often to refer to practices against women due to existing gender inequalities making women more vulnerable. For example, Force marriage, denial of the right to choose a spouse, denial of right to own properties, Female genital mutilation, Rape, Refusal to permit women to work, verbal abuse, physical abuse, domestic violence and incest among others.

Child Abuse on the other hand is not just physical violence directed at a child, it is any form of maltreatment by an adult which is violent or threatening for the child. Child abuse is not just about black eyes or physical marks it leaves, not all signs of child abuse are obvious. E.g. Ignoring children’s needs, putting them in unsupervised, dangerous situations, exposing them to sexual situations or making them feel worthless or stupid are also forms of child abuse which can leave deep, lasting scars on kids. The Co-Ordinator re-emphasized that physical abuse is just one type of Child abuse. Child neglect, sexual and emotional abuse can inflict just as much damage and since they are not always as obvious, most people care less to intervene. To this end, he tasked the surveillance team to see the issues raised as all-encompassing for spotlighting. The monthly data collection incidence monitoring tool, a detailed document for reporting on Violence Against Children was distributed to members for careful study and explanation on usage.

During the interactive session, Alhaji Lateef Kayode Akinborode, Executive Director, Community Women’s Rights Foundation took time to explain to members some issues they are likely to confront and how to handle them tactfully. While Mrs. Abolore Sherifat Sulaiman, of Believing Women Organisation, Ikorodu North and Alhaja Funmilayo Mariam Onifade, Community Women Rights Foundation, Ijede LCDA both shared their experiences on the field to members.

Highpoint of the inaugural meeting which was attend by 16 members of the surveillance team was the distribution of COVID-19 Face mask by the Executive Director of Community Women’s Rights Foundation.

The Director, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Lagos Directorate, Mr. Waheed Ishola welcoming participants while giving his opening remarks at the inaugural meeting of Ikorodu Spotlight Surveillance Team on the Violence Against Women and Girls held on Wednesday 10^th June, 2020 in Majidun Area of Ikorodu Local Government of Lagos State.

PIX: 2 and PIX: 4 (standing) Mr. Henry Adenigba, Executive Director of Humanity Family Foundation for Peace and Development (HUFFPED) and Co-Ordinator Child Protection Network (CPN) giving his talk on key areas members should spot light in cause of their assignment at the inaugural meeting.

PIX: 3 and PIX: 8 Shows participants studying the monthly data collection incidence monitoring tool. A very detailed document for reporting on Violence Against Children