Domestic violence: Platform Capital, Diatom Impact develop heart initiative for victims
Joy Obakeye
In quest for freedom from physical, sexual and emotional abuse and exploitation amongst women, a Non Governmental Organisation Platform Capital, Diatom Impact has recently launched a heart initiative.
While speaking to journalists in Lagos, the Founder, Platform Capital, Akintoye Akindele disclosed that the violence in relationships is a sign of a broken society which must be rooted out at all costs.
He said, the launch by both parties is to help propagate this, to help victims of domestic violence transit and rebuild their lives.
“Which is against the backdrop of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence (GBV), an international campaign to challenge violence against women and girls.
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Akindele explained that the Heart Initiative is an extension of the group donation of N5 million to the Olamide Alli Trust Fund that was set up by AGS Tribe, which was donated to ensure that the children of the diseased, who was brutally murdered by her fiancé remain in school up to the tertiary level.
According to him, “the Platform Capital has committed one hundred million to provide more support to women experiencing domestic violence.”
“The Fund provides direct financial assistance to women seeking refuge from domestic violence and sexual abuse.
“Funds are used to offset major costs that would otherwise have forced the abused into depending on her abuser for financial support, including rent, children’s tuition, and emergency services. Additionally, women in dire need will receive a stipend for up to six months to cover food and transportation.” he said.
Also, Director of Impact and Research, Anna Bethune, disclosed that according to statics, Gender Based Violence increased by 20% during the Lockdown because women were forced to stay at home with their abusive partners with the prediction by UN that an estimated 15 million cases of intimate partner violence could occur within six months of the Lockdown.
She said Nigeria was not exempted as Lagos, where the Corona Virus impacted the most people in Nigeria, recorded a 50% increase in domestic and sexual violence reported cases.
While the Minister for Women’s Affairs and Social Development, Pauline Tallen, reported that there were 3,600 rape cases recorded during the Lockdown. Overall, they are approximately 2.58 million women in Nigeria in need of protection from GBV, according to the UN.
In her words, she said:” We know why women who have been abused in their relationships choose to stay. In many cases, it is because they do not feel economically empowered to leave.
Despite the psychological and emotional trauma that they have experienced, the need to ensure that they and their children can eat and have shelter. The Heart Initiative exists to give them back that choice”
