NGO demands sexual assault referral centres in Oyo

The Hug Place, a non-governmental organization has appealed to the Oyo state government to create sexual assault referral centres in all the 33 local government areas of the state.

Founder of the non-governmental organization, Ms. Jesudunsin Okewunmi, made this appeal on Saturday in Ibadan during the maiden edition of the colour conference tagged: “Oyo SARC: Towards rehabilitation of sexual violence victims.”

Sexual assault referral centres are specialist medical and forensic services for anyone who has been raped or sexually assaulted.

Okewumi said that having sexual assault referral centres in the state would strengthen cases of victims of sexual violence against perpetrators and also put an end to stigmatisation.

“The rehabilitation of survivors is very important, as the number of cases of sexual violence survivors is on the rise. Sexual assault is more than a harm done to the body. It is also a harm done to the soul. A survivor needs recovery, which is a long process.

“This goes a long way in preventing secondary victimisation and further abuse of the victim. This is a stand government needs to take to show that it does not condone gender-based violence,” she said.

Founder, Women Safe House Initiative, Mrs. Wuraoluwa Ayodele, said that the culture of secrecy and silence in the community always frustrated the efforts to get justice and put an end to gender-based violence.

“Although, there are existing laws that protect women against violence and abuse, the laws are not being implemented adequately, and until we get that, getting justice for survivors of abuse will continue to be difficult.

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“There are sexual assault referral centres being run by private individuals and agencies that have been doing better in getting justice for survivors, but we need to get the support of government as the number one authority in the state, in order to be able to protect the victims.

“Silence and fear being demonstrated by victims oftentimes prevent many of them from getting justice and seeking redress.

“Violence will die when the culture of silence dies; people need to create a good support system for survivors to speak out and reduce stigmatisation, and until we do that, violence will continue to thrive,” she said.