NAN-HG-7
Committee
By Olasunkanmi Onifade
Abuja, July 18, 2017 (NAN) The Sexual Offences Awareness and Victims Rehabilitation Initiative (SOAR), an NGO, says it plans to establish child protection committees in Wumba and Dutse communities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Mrs Chinyere Eyoh, the Executive Director of the NGO said this in an interview with the News Agency in Abuja (NAN) on Tuesday.
“In response to community leaders of Wumba and Dutse-Garki, who complained about the prevalence of sexual violence against their girls, we will be mobilising community members to establish child protection committees.
“They will then be trained to effectively address the issues of sexual violence against girls and linked with service providers who they can refer to for justice and victim support when cases occur.
“Prevention strategies will also be explored together and action plans drawn up to make these strategies. It’s being funded by UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women.”
Eyoh said that the training was set to take place in September, adding that it would empower both communities to take proactive steps to protect and safeguard their children from the menace of sexual violence.
She said that the organisation had initially to educated 640 girls in Dutse and Wumba communities in the FCT on sexual violence.
“We desire to do more in the FCT to prevent the sexual abuse of children.
“SOAR initiative is implementing a project titled: “Mobilising Communities To End Sexual Based Violence Against Girls” in Dutse Local District of Abuja Municipal Area Council.
She said that the two-year project was aimed at improving and supporting girls in and out of schools in Dutse and Wumba communities.
“Apart from training these girls as advocates against sexual abuse on this project, we will be mobilising community members to develop structures and systems to address the menace of sexual abuse.
“In the first two quarters of 2017, we are fully dedicated to establishing relationship with these communities and collecting baseline information on sexual violence within the community.
“We will also support the trained staff, volunteers and the Project Implementation Advisory Team (PIAT) to conduct due diligence on the project.”
She said that the organisation would commence later this year the peer educators training for girls and boys in Durumi Phase 1 which began in 2016.(NAN)
OEO/GY
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Edited by Grace Yussuf