A Practical guide for survivors of rape and other forms of gender based violence have been developed.
The guide serves as a tool to prevent sexual and gender-based violence, SGBV through capacity development of duty bearers and provision of instant support to survivors through access to relevant resources and information.
At the launch of the booklet “The Survivor’s Guide” in Abuja, the Executive Director of Invictus Africa, a non -Governmental Organisation, Mrs. Bukky Shonibare said the hand-on guide would support victims and survivors of SGBV to take necessary decision.
According to Mrs. Shonibare through the guide, survivors of SGBV would know the relevant terms, what to do and where to get help when raped, or sexually abused as well as their rights as enshrined in the constitution and the basic tenants of the Violence Against Persons Prohibitions, VAPP, Act.
“We want to make the survivors guide reachable to the different segments of the society, persons with disability, even in local languages. Those are the task we want to take moving forward to make sure that everyone in the society who have either been sexually abused or potentially be abused have access to this information” she said
The Country Director, Amnesty International Nigeria, Ms. Osai Ojigbo stressed the need for more resources to effectively implement laws protecting the rights of survivors and ensure punishment for perpetrators.
Reporting by Azizatu Sani, editing by Daniel Adejo