LIFE Canvasses Improved Justice Access for Survivors of Sexual, Gender Based Violence

Esther Oluku

Not for profit organisation, Leadership Initiative for Youth Empowerment (LIFE), has harped on the need to improve access to justice for survivors of sexual and gender based violence.

The Chief Programme Officer, LIFE, Ms. Oluwatoyin Mokwe, led the charge at the One-day Dialogue Session with stakeholders aimed at sensitizing participants on existing legal and social support services put in place by the government and supported by civil society groups.

Mokwe identified various challenges which inhibits access to justice for survivors of sexual and gender based violence while outlining available support services which members of the public can take advantage of.

According to her, unequal wealth distribution between genders, patriarchy, ignorance of existing legal provisions and societal stigmatization constitute factors limiting access to justice for survivors.

She said: “Improving access to justice for vulnerable survivors of Gender Based Violence (GBV) is crucial for human right and dignity. For victims of GBV the injury could be physical bleeding or even internal bleeding but what if it is psychological? One cannot see it but it does exist.

“Psychological healing is important. Without access to legal support services, survivors will struggle with the legal system and would not be able to hold perpetrators accountable for their actions. The more we keep quiet, the more it becomes a cycle of abuse.”

A representative of Mirable Center, a social support group, Mrs. Joy Shokoya, who also spoke at the event stated that for about 11 years of the Center’s existence, it has assisted numerous GBV survivors to get justice and healthcare support through provision of free medical services to help the victims avoid HIV and pregnancy resulting from such experiences.

On her part, a representative of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA), Mrs Omolara Ogundipe, highlighted the Lagos State government has zero tolerance to incidences of domestic abuse adding that the state provides free legal and rehabilitation service to victims who seek justice as well as safe housing where victims can live until they feel safe enough to be reintegrated into society

Meanwhile, a representative of the Police from the Alausa Police Command, Oluwabunmi Fisayo, pleaded with Nigerians not to write off the police or to downplay the critical role of the Force in ensuring that justice is served and perpetrators are brought to account.

She assured those in attendance that engagements like this with citizens will help in generating pointers and suggestions towards policy reform which will benefit all Nigerians for the long haul.

Mokwe reassured participants that LIFE is committed to standing in solidarity with survivors and supporting them through the legal processes to ensure that they get justice.