By Gami Tadanyigbe

The Abiodun Essiet Initiative for Girls (AEIG), an NGO, has called on residents of Karmo-Sabo Community, a surburb in the Federal Capital Territory, to report cases of sexual and gender based violence to the appropriate authorities, in order for victims to get justice.

Mrs Abiodun Essiet, Executive Director of the Organisation, said this on Thursday, during an interactive meeting with stakeholders, security personnel, paramilitary, women, youths and traditional rulers in the community.

Essiet, who was represented by the Project Officer of the Organisation, Josephine Emeghoghena, said the meeting was aimed at educating rural communities on gender based violence and the need to speak out when faced with such issues.

She said that the meeting which focuses on community scorecard on community response to sexual and gender based, revealed areas where the community needs improvement and help.

“This is a scorecard interphase meeting and they have been giving us information of how the community view sexual and gender-based violence and how they report such cases to their community leaders.

“Also, they are giving us feedback of how the community leaders handle such reported cases and we found out that the community does not have a book to record such cases when they are reported.

“We also noticed that when it comes to spousal battery or incest, most women do not like to speak out, they feel it is forbidden.

“But we will continue to keep the conversation going with the community and with their traditional rulers, so that when there are cases, they will know the right authorities to report to.

“We will be doing this with NAPTIP, Police, NSCDC, Human Rights representatives, Social Welfare Department among others, all towards supporting the community in addressing issues on SGBV,” she said.

On his part, the Village Head of Karmo-Sabo Community, Chief Umar Garni, appreciated the NGO for the initiative and for sensitising members of the community on sexual and gender-based violence.

He added that the knowledge gained from the meeting would be shared amongst other traditional rulers within the community, so as to effectively mitigate the menace.

Mrs Hauwa Usman, Women Leader of the community, appreciated the organisation for the programme, stressing that the programme had afforded them more knowledge on how to handle and report cases of SGBV.(NAN)