Project Alert on Violence Against Woman (VAW) has charged the six-woman community surveillance team selected during the Community Capacity Building Programme for Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and Right Groups on SGBV Referral Services, to serve as a watchdog in Alimosho for cases of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) and to make the appropriate referrals for victims of SGBV.
Earlier, AlimoshoToday had reported the SGBV Community Capacity Building Programme for CSOs and Right Groups on SGBV Referral Services, organised by Project Alert under the Spotlight Initiative, at the Sasha General Community Town Hall, Jaiye Oba on Friday, September 4, 2020.
In the six-woman community surveillance team meeting that held today, the Programme Officer and Shelter Administrator of Project Alert, Mrs Nsini Udonta charged the women:
"You don't blame the victim. Even if the girl went to a man's house and got raped there, don't ask her what took her there. You need to calm her down and tell her it is not her fault. 'That you were there does not mean he should rape you because he did not seek your consent to do whatever he has done.
"When you blame the victim, they will feel responsible for the offence committed against them, which makes it secondary victimization. If it happens again, they won't be able to talk.
"You should help the victim first and find a solution to the issue at hand."
Mrs Udonta sensitised the women on the objectives of the surveillance/support team which includes: continued sensitisation in their communities; watching out for reports of cases of abuse - domestic and sexual; providing advice on steps to be taken by the victims; sharing information with Project Alert when abuse happens so that the organisation can help facilitate justice and medical care for the victim, and monthly meetings with the Project Officer to discuss and review SGBV issues in the community.
She told them the steps to take while helping SGBV victims, depending on the case: obtaining consent from the victim; police report; hospital visit to assess the extent of the damage, which could include administering contraceptives, PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) or other treatments and so on.
The women were also educated on the various CSOs and Right Groups on SGBV Referral Services that could help SGBV victims, and were implored to make the appropriate referrals openly or discreetly as the situation demands.
Executives were nominated during the meeting, leaving Mrs Odebode Adedayo as the team leader and Mrs Joke Joseph as the Secretary.
The women shared their experiences and Mrs Udonta encouraged them to see the responsibility saddled upon them as a service to humanity.