Tola Winjobi Archives

COMMENCEMENT

The workshop commenced with registration at 9.05a.m while Imam Busairi Salaudeen said the opening prayer at10:40am to formally start the meeting.

INVITATION OF DIGNITARIES TO THE HIGH TABLE

The programme was anchored by Barr. Aderonke Ige who invited to the high table the following dignitaries: Miss Yewande Ige representing the Oyo State Ministry for Women Affairs and Social Welfare; Barrister Mrs. Grace Ketefe, the Resource person and the Principal Coordinator CAFSO-WRAG for Development Dr. Tola Winjobi. They were later joined by the Chairman, Oyo State House of Assembly House Committee on Women Affairs, Hon. Barr Yisau Azeez Adesope and Chairman House Committee on Works and Lands Hon. Wahab Oladejo.

WELCOME ADDRESS

A welcome address was given by Dr David Tola Winjobi the Principal Coordinator CAFSO-WRAG for Development. In his speech he stated some projects his organization has implemented which include:

Achieving MDGs in Nigeria: “Protect Women from dying in pregnancy and Children from Dying at Infancy” Sponsored by United Nations Millennium Campaign
Respecting the Rights of Female Bank Staff sponsored by Global Fund for Women, USA.
House Bill Prohibiting Female Genital Mutilation in Osun State supported by Amnesty International.
Building a shelter for women victims of Gender-Based Violence and Human Trafficking (ALC/Rotary of Italy)
Research project on Street/Working Children in Urban Slum of Oyo State (Funded by UNICEF)

He made it known that Gender-Based Violence was topical and rampart in Nigeria. He shared some reported cases of a 50-year old man having sexual intercourse with 4 years old- a more or less infant girl with cases of rape rampart. He said right-based approach was the best way of tackling Gender-Based Violence.

PAPER DELIVERED BY THE RESOURCE PERSON

The resource person Barrister Mrs. Grace Ketefe in her presentation made it known that the highest incidence of Gender-Based Violence occurred in the home and at the bosom of closely knitted family. Incidents of Gender-Based Violence such as wife battery, rape, and killing etc. were or increase in Nigeria, according to her. Only 6 out of 36 States in Nigeria have laws prohibiting and punishing offenses on Gender-Based Violence.

Below are some definitions given on gender-based violence:

Ekiti State GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE (Prohibition) Law 2011 defines Gender-Based Violence as the violence that affects a person or group disproportionately because of their sex.

United Nations Populations Fund Gender Theme Group, 1996 defines Gender-Based Violence as violence involving men and women, in which the female is usually the victim and which is derived from unequal power relationships between men and women.

In her findings, statistics on Gender-Based Violence prevalence in national and at the global level shows that:

Among women aged 15-44 years, Gender-Based Violence accounts for more death and disability than combined effects of cancer, malaria, traffic-related injuries and war.
Women who are victims of domestic violence are 12times more likely to attempt suicide than those who do not experience such violence.

The following constitute types of Gender-Based Violence:

Physical Violence: assault and /battery, kicking, stabbing, human trafficking etc.
Psychological Violence: any behavior that makes another person feels constantly unhappy or afraid, jittery or depressed, including verbal abuse etc.
Economic Violence: Any act such as denial of funds, refusal to contribute financially, denial of food and basic needs and controlling of health care and employment.
Harmful Traditional Practices: female genital mutilation, child marriage, dowry related violence etc.
Domestic Violence: marital rape, confinement or detention against her will, verbal and emotional abuses etc.
Sexual violence: any forceful engagement of another in a sexual conduct that abuses, humiliates or degrades the other person or otherwise defiles another person’s sexual integrity or a sexual contact of a person aware of being infected with HIV/STD. Examples include rape, sexual harassment, child defilement forced sterilization and pregnancy.

She also shared some strategies for curbing GBV which include:

Coordinated Responses to Gender-Based Violence: the responses are from the health, legal and social support all combined together to ensure that victims live a very rewarding and fulfilled life after experience.

Coordinated legal responses to victims of Gender-Based Violence will ensure that victim enjoys the following services:

Referrals to/from police and social support sectors
Effective Police/Justice statement –taking and documentation
Ensure the safety of the survivor
Prosecution of the perpetrators

Reintegration and establishment of the victim of Gender-Based Violence: to reintegrate the victims it is important to provide social support, provision of safe hosing/shelter, relocation services, if required and if necessary long-term psychosocial counseling and rehabilitation.

CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE PLENARY

The following contributions to the discussions were made:

Imam Busairi of World Islamic Peace Foundation gave his contribution stating that suffering and smiling life style is applicable to Muslim women and Nigerian women in general.
Dr. (Mrs.) Dupe Ladapo representing Women and Children Aids Initiative also shared a story about a man who defiled her daughter and fight against any young men try or willing to be in relationship with her daughter.
Mrs.Tola-Winjobi also advised we stop stigmatization when we know someone who is a victim of rape while she also shared the case of a Quran teacher that raped one of his students.

TECHNICAL WORKING GROUPS

There were three technical groups in all each focusing on:

Presentation of a bill on GBV
Position paper on Gender-Based Violence (GBV)
Manifestations of GBV and suggestions for curbing it

The first group worked on proposed bill. The following were amendments proposed:

(1) LONG TITLE: A law to provide for prohibition and protection against GBV and related matter

(2) SECTION 2(5) 48hrs as opposed to 72hrs

(3) To be included in the bills:

(a) Punishment section

(b) Emergency monetary relief for victims who have suffering financially or monetarily

(d) After- care services for the victim to include counseling, psycho- social support etc

The second group worked on the position paper. Below is the breakdown on the structure of the paper:

(1) Profile of the organization including vision and mission, and objectives

(2) Introduction to GBV

(3) Types & causes of GBV

(4) Data and Equivalence (Statistics)

(5) Addressing the issue (GBV)

(6) Challenges of GBV

(7) Conclusion

The third group worked on manifestation of GBV and suggestions for curbing it. The following key inputs were made:

The various dimensions of GBV were presented under the following sub-divisions

(i) Physical violence: assault, battery, acid bath, hot water bath

(ii) Psychological Violence

(iii) Economics Violence: women as bread winner, stopping a woman from working, financial deprivation.

(iv) Harmful traditional practices: inheritance, girl forced to marriage, genital mutilation, widowhood practices.

(v) Sexual Violence: forced sex, tying of hands, legs, mouth and the eyes.

(vi) Institutional Violence: discrimination and marginalization at the work place, more men in decision making positions.

Suggestions for curbing Gender-Based Violence:

Public enlighten and sensitization: involving media, print and electronic means, and sensitization training for police, health workers, and religious institutions.
Stakeholders – governments, NBA, FIDA etc – should ensure that culprits are bought to book.
Overall sensitization of people.
Establishment of GBV Unit in the High Court
The legislative arm to make legislation on GBV while existing bill be passed into law.
Create a better legal frame work to prosecute and punish GBV perpetrators (it should be a state case, and whoever tries to cover suit case up should be prosecuted).
Promote positive cultural values through media, schools etc.
Setting up peer educators in schools.
Emphasize adequate sex education in schools and homes.
Set up public counseling center on reproductive health and Gender-Based Violence.
Provision of shelter to rehabilitate victims and give them protection.

ADDRESS BY HONOURABLES ADESOPE AND OLADEJO

Hon. Azeez Yisau Adesope and Hon. Wahab Oladejo came in during the formation of technical group on GBV and shared with us their interest in GBV. They were in support of the proposed bill on GBV. They promised to support the bill when brought to the House for legislation. They also told us the procedures for presenting bill to the house of assembly which includes forwarding our proposed bill to the House of Assembly and having a link in the House of Assembly that will hasten the proposed bill which ordinarily should undergo three readings before being passed into law.

FORMATION OF ADVOCACY CHAMPIONS

All the participants were designated as advocacy champions on GBV. However, the workshop resolved to fast-track the process of campaigning and legislation against GBV by appointing the following organizations and individuals to do a follow up to the activities: