Combating The Scourge of Sexual Violence Against Women – AWLA

African Women Lawyers Association Nigeria (AWLA), Rivers State Branch celebrates the African women and in commemoration of the 16 days activism against gender-based violence on the 6th of December, 2019 at Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Port Harcourt Branch House, Rivers State.

The Rivers State Branch of the African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA) is a non-profit, non-governmental and professional organization for African Women Lawyers practicing law in Rivers State, Nigeria.

According to ALWA’s Rivers State coordinator Mrs Cordelia U. Eke FICMC during her welcome address described the African Woman as not only physically well proportioned but she is endowed with grace and beauty, strength and courage, colour and culture, intelligence and charisma. She carries herself with confidence and speaks boldness. She has an indomitable spirit that refuses to be cowed in the face of adversity, a never-say-die attitude and inspite of all the injustices meted out to her by tradition stemming from our patrilineal African society, she continues to fight for her freedom, her children and her man’s satisfaction.

This year’s activism was themed “Generation Equality Stands Against Rape”. This theme is centered on the persisting problem of sexual violence against women and innocent children.

AWLA RIVERS vision is to promote, preserve and protect the rights and interests of women and children living in Nigeria, Africa and particularly in Rivers State and neighbouring States in the Niger Delta region.

An interesting part and captivating moment of the event was when Mrs Oluwatoyin Falaiye was introduced as a sexual abused survivor, a nomenclature many Nigerians will not want to be associated with, but, because of her determination to rid off this menace that’s gradually eating up the system, she has decided to tell stories using herself as a case study.

Mrs Oluwatoyin Falaiye is a Lawyer, Child Advocate and the founder of Jewel’s Hive Initiative.

Read Mrs Oluwatoyin Falaiye’s Story below:

The sexual abused survivor, Mrs Oluwatoyin Falaiye was seven(7) years old when she started staying with her aunt and her husband in the city of Lagos.

At the age of 10 she was raped by her neigbour’s son and was asked to keep quite and never to disclose what happened to anybody by the perpetrator’s mother.

At the age of 12, her aunt’s husband who was a police officer began to molest her in their apartment. She was threatened never to tell anyone about her ordeal, else, she will be sent back to the village where she was brought from and will die after seven (7) days. Mrs Oluwatoyin sleeps in the parlour of their two bedroom apartment due to lack of room. The apartment only habors her, her aunt and her aunt’s husband.

She further stated that she was raped almost every night for seven years but couldn’t tell anyone due to the continuous threats made by her aunty’s husband.

Seven years later, she sormoned courage to opened up to her childhood friend whom introduced her into reading some story books. She encountered a place in the book which further gave her the needed courage and idea of hiding a kitchen knife under her pillow while sleeping awaiting the monster. Her aunty’s husband came as usual and lo and behold, she was courageous enough to bring out the knife on her aunt’s husband to stab him and he was surprised, shaken and asked her who has she been talking to. He pleaded with her never to come harass her any longer, this he stopped for six weeks.

After six weeks, the monster in him came alive and he resumed his usual but was caught up by his wife, though she did not alter a word to her husband. In the morning of the same day, after her aunt’s husband had gone to work, her aunty persuaded her to open up on what has been going on between her and her husband. She could not speak freely and eloquently due to fear.

Her aunt confided in their neigbour and was told she was a witch, hence, she should be taken to church for deliverance. She was later taken to the church for deliverance as advised by their neigbour, and was asked to read Psalm 57 for seven (7)days.

Her aunt later died not because she was barren but because of the untold emotional, physical and psycological abuse the monster she called husband made her to pass through. May her soul rest in peace. Amen.

The climax of the event was the presentation of a visual act emotional laden performance depicting the challenges women face in the society.
The Secretary of the association and chairman of the planning commitee Hilda Desmond -Ihekaire (MCArb) stated that the drama is a tip of the iceberg of the reports of sexual violence and dehumanizing treatment received in AWLA office on daily basis.

She called on women to learn their lessons from the story of the survivor. Abusers will never stop until you expose them. She encouraged women to be bold, fearless and speak out and not hide any perpetrator of sexual violence as they thrive on the silence of their victims. She added that AWLA is ready to take up such matters on pro bono and do everything to protect the victims including providing a safe home.

Due to lack of information on gender-based violence AWLA has made a handbook to practically guide the women on their rights against violence in their personal lives, communities and the rest.

According to ALWA, during the panel discussion adviced that parents should start teaching their children about sex education at a very tender age so as to help reduce the rate of rape and abuse in Rivers State and Nigeria at large.

Source: profjaysblog