Don’t Commit Suicide Because Of Sexual Molestation, Group Tells Victims

A group operating under the aegis of Centre for Gender Economic Initiative (CGE Africa) has charged young girls who had been sexually molested not to take their own lives, but seek justice until it is served.

Executive director of the organisation, Uchenna Idoko, gave the charge during an interview with LEADERSHIP shortly after the Activism Ideation meeting, which took place in Calabar, Cross River State on Thursday.

The group which focuses on addressing poverty alleviation and gender inequalities through the promotion of women enterprises and their role as economic agents, also charged rape victims not to assume that suffering sexual violence was the end of life.

Speaking on the topic ‘Gender-Responsive Budgeting for Sexual Violence Prevention and Mitigation’, he urged rape victims to be strong and hopeful as being a victim of rape doesn’t mean that he world has come to an end.

Idoko, who stated that the organisation has already concluded plans to tell their stories via theatrical play 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), feels our story can better be told via short drama.

“The goal of the meeting is to engage stakeholders, government representatives, civil society organisations and sector experts in a conversation about using the 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,” Idoko maintained.

Earlier, the immediate-past chairperson of International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Cross River State chapter, Barr. Ann Awah, said: “All along, we have been talking about violence against the girl-child, children on sexual violence.

“Here we are today, trying to put together a play, something that will bring hope clearly to people who may have 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 girl-child might be passing through.”