Abiodun Essiet Initiative for Girls holds a Town Hall Meeting tagged:
The roles of religious institutions in combating sexual and gender-based violence.
The event which brought together original inhabitants of FCT, clerics across different faith, agencies of government and the Federal Capital Territory Administration, and other stakeholders, aims at sensitizing those in attendance on their roles to make places of worship a safe space for victims, and be vocal on issues of SGBV.
In her opening remark, the Executive Director AEIG, Abiodun Essiet, noted that incidences of abuse and violence occur everywhere and not even the places of worship are exempted; thus the need to come together and chat a way forward. In the same vein, Sheikh (Dr.) Ibrahim Yusuf, Chairman interfaith Committee, Bwari Area Council, also noted that a place of worship which should be a place of refuge is becoming complicit in perpetrating SGBV and the culture of silence.
Mr. Gabriel Onyali, representing NAPTIP Nigeria , said the organization is doing its best to sensitize the masses, especially women in rural areas on their rights and the provisions of the law. They believe the more people are aware of their rights, the lesser the conspiracy of silence.
Participants shared their individual experience and also encouraged clerics present to ensure issues of sexual and gender-based violence and human rights are openly discussed in places of worship.
The FCT OI project is funded by MacArthur Foundation through Resource Center for Human Rights and Civic Education.