The COVID-19 Pandemic no doubt has not only left humanity and Nigerians in particular with so many unanswered questions, it has also exposed the inadequacy of our systems.
This inadequacy which manifested during the total lockdown occasioned by Corona Virus left the society with high increase in domestic violence which cut across both gender,child abuse and girl child molestation and underage rape cases.
Against this back drop, stakeholders are calling on Government to put in place ‘safe haven’ for victims of all forms of violence. A place where victims who cry out could be moved to so as to keep them away from their violators while they recuperate.
According to the Chair Person of Nigeria Association Of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Mrs Lilian Okonkwo -Ogabu, the increase in violence against women and children is because victims are now locked down with their violators, coupled with lack of finances and inability for some men to provide for their house holds.
She called on Government at all levels to establish safe spaces with toll free numbers, regretting that victims of violence were unable to get help during the lock down.
She stressed the need for Government to move the violated to an entirely new and different environment, where counselors and psychologists will be on ground to help them.
“Government should be intentional about this,there should be an organised way of handling cases of violence when they come, this period has taught us to create safe space for women and children who are abused”, she noted.
Oh her part, the Public Secretary of International Federation Of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Rivers State Chapter, Bar. Stephanie Igbim affirmed that the lockdown witnessed increase in child molestation regretting that most of those cases were perpetrated by adults who are supposed to be parents and guardians to those children.
Stressing the need to nip under age rape cases in the bud,she expressed dismay that children are molested every where such as homes, schools and Churches and described it as worst when the children are not safe even at home.
It could be recalled that the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Bill has been passed by Rivers State House Of Assembly with different degrees of penalties for different offenders but whether this law created ‘safe space’ for victims of violence has remained a big question begging for an answer.
