SRHR Advocacy in times of COVID-19

On June 25, 2020, I had a radio interview at Cool FM Abuja on Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) Advocacy in times of COVID-19 Pandemic.

You can listen to the full interview here.

This is how the conversation went:

RADIO HOST: What does Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights Advocacy entail? 

NIMISIRE: Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights advocacy is a part of human rights advocacy that deals with sexuality and reproduction. It combines four fields, which are Sexual Health, Sexual Rights, Reproductive Health, and Reproductive Rights. 

Sexual Health is focused on helping individuals have a positive and respectful approach to sexuality, sexual relationships, and safe sex.

Sexual Rights is about ensuring people have sexual and emotional pleasure free of coercion, discrimination, and violence.

Reproductive Health addresses reproductive processes, functions, and systems; it implies that people are free to choose if, when, and how they want to reproduce. It also has to do with family planning and contraceptive use.  

Reproductive Rights is about the legal rights and law that have to do with reproduction. It includes the right to make decisions on reproduction, free of force or coercion. The existence of Baby Factories where girls and women are raped and impregnated is a violation of reproductive rights.

 

RADIO HOST: What relationship exists between COVID-19 and increase in cases of Gender Based Violence?

NIMISIRE: Violence against women and girls tends to increase during a crisis or pandemic. The current exacerbation is mainly due to restriction of movement; women and girls are trapped at home with abusive partners or family members and unable to access external support and protection. Women and girls are unable to go to their workplace/schools regularly; places that served as escape before the pandemic.

Data on reported incidents of Gender-based Violence (GBV) cases in Nigeria in 24 States shows that in March, 346 GBV incidents were reported, while in the first part of April, incident reports spiked to 794, showing a 56% increase in just two weeks of lockdown.

 

RADIO HOST: Are there existing laws that serve to protect women and girls against Sexual Violence? How effective are they? What can be done to make them effective?

NIMISIRE: There are State and Federal Laws that exist to protect women and girls in Nigeria against violence. We have the Penal Code, Criminal Code, Child Rights Act, and Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act. Some States like Lagos and Ekiti have independent State laws on GBV. Out of all these laws, the most comprehensive and protecting of women and girls are the Child Rights Act and Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act.

For these laws to be applicable in the court when prosecuting offenders, they must have been domesticated in the State the prosecution is being done. Sadly, only 15 States have adopted the VAPP Act, Akwa Ibom being the most recent. Only 25 States have adopted the Child Rights Act; majority of Northern States have refused to domesticate this law because it protects children below the age of 18 from violation and acts such as child marriage, which is common in the North.

To end all forms of violence against Nigerian women and girls, the Child Rights Act and VAPP Act must be domesticated in all Nigerian States. Also, the police need to be survivor-centered in their response to cases of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), so as to encourage survivors to speak up. When this happens, it will send a strong message to everyone who could be a potential perpetrator.

Citizens must engage their legislators and representatives at State and Federal levels and enjoin them to push for the domestication of these laws, create Sexual Assault Referral Centers (SARC) in every State and an effective, survivor-centered Gender Desk in every Police Station. They should also be deliberate during the next election process, and vote for leaders who prioritize gender equality, because gender based violence is deeply rooted in gender inequality.

 

RADIO HOST:  How can the government, stakeholders, and individuals ensure the safety of women and girls during this pandemic?

NIMISIRE: First responders such as the police and health-workers must swing into action once a case of Gender Based Violence (GBV) is reported; their response must be survivor-centred, in that they must prioritize the survivor’s safety and access to justice.

Organizations working to end GBV should increase publicity of their support services for survivors by using both traditional and digital media, and have a working helpline. They should also try to remove or protect survivors from violent situations/spaces.

Messages about Sexual and Gender Based Violence and reporting mechanisms should be included in hygiene promotion activities about COVID-19.

Community members should keep in touch and support women and girls at the risk of violence and refer them to organizations that provide shelter and psychosocial support during an emergency.

Religious houses should provide/serve as shelters for survivors of GBV who need to be away from their perpetrators. 

The Government, policy makers and stakeholders must adopt a gender-responsive strategy and prioritise GBV services by including them as part of their response plans for COVID-19. Access to Justice for survivors must also be strengthened. 

It is important that shelter for GBV survivors is prioritized as isolation centres are. GBV workers/actors must be categorized as essential workers and allowed to move and work freely, and given necessary support.

 

RADIO HOST: What misconceptions around sexual violence are people yet to, but must unlearn?

NIMISIRE: There are so many misconceptions about sexual violence that individuals believe because of the existence of Rape Culture in the society they grew in, but it is important they take responsibility for unlearning them. Some myths and corresponding facts about Sexual Violence include:  

MYTH: Women who wear revealing clothes are asking to be sexually assaulted.

FACT: Clothing is not an invitation for sex, or consent.  No one deserves to be sexually assaulted because of how they are dressed.

MYTH: Most sexual assaults happen at night in dark corners.

FACT: Many sexual assaults occur during the day and often in the homes of the people involved.

MYTH: A man cannot be sexually assaulted by a woman.

FACT: Although men are usually sexually assaulted by men, some are assaulted by women.

MYTH: If someone is drinking or taking drugs, they are asking to be sexually assaulted.

FACT: A person who is under the influence of alcohol or drugs cannot consent to sexual acts with another person. It is a crime to have sex with a person who cannot consent because they are intoxicated or drugged.

MYTH: Most sexual assaults are committed by strangers.

 FACT: 8 out of 10 victims of sexual assault are assaulted by someone they know.

MYTH: Men sexually assault others because they are sexually frustrated and cannot control their sexual urges.

FACT: Sexual assault is a crime of power and not about the perpetrator’s sexual pleasure. It doesn’t just happen by chance; majority of sexual assaults are premeditated and do not involve loss of control on the perpetrator’s part.

MYTH: If a person did not scream, fight or has no injury, it could not have been a sexual assault.

FACT: People respond to assault in different ways; some people fight and some freeze instead, because they are paralysed with fear.

MYTH: Sex Workers cannot be sexually assaulted.

FACT: Sex Work does not rid a person of their right to give and withdraw consent to sex (remember this when you think of redirecting rapists to sex workers).

MYTH: ‘No’ can sometimes mean ‘yes’ – women sometimes play ‘hard to get’.

FACT: No means No!

MYTH: It is a man’s right to have sex with his wife or partner whenever he wants.

FACT: Marriage does not rob a person of their body autonomy; forcing anyone to have sex or perform sexual acts when they do not want to is sexual assault.

 

RADIO HOST: What interventions are needed to facilitate women and girls’ access to reproductive healthcare and services?

NIMISIRE: Sanitary products and emergency contraception should be included in COVID-19 relief packages distributed by the government.

The government can partner with organizations that provide sanitary hygiene products for the less-privileged to distribute these items and teach people how to make reusable sanitary pads.

The Ministry of Health in States affected by COVID-19 must ensure — through Hospitals Management Board — there is no hindrance to Sexual and Reproductive healthcare services such as contraception, antenatal care, tests and vaccines for Sexually Transmitted Diseases.

The gynaecology unit of every hospital must be up and functioning to its utmost capacity.

 

RADIO HOST: What advice do you have for survivors of Gender Based Violence? 

NIMISIRE: It is important you know that there is no shame in being violated; the only person/people who should be ashamed is/are the perpetrator(s). Also know that healing is possible, it may take a while, but it will happen. Ensure you have a support system in whom you can confide when you are ready to tell your story. Be skeptical about the kind of people they are; they must be non judgemental, emotionally intelligent, and love you enough to support your healing process. 

If you can, please remove yourself from an environment you are being violated in. You can reach out to organizations such as Stand to End Rape Initiative (STER), Mirabel Centre, FIDA Nigeria, or any Sexual Assault Referral Center close to you for support. 

 

 

SOURCES:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_and_reproductive_health_and_rights#:~:text=Sexual%20and%20reproductive%20health%20and%20rights%20or%20SRHR%20is%20the,at%20all%20in%20other%20contexts.
• https://nigeria.un.org/en/45324-gender-based-violence-nigeria-during-covid-19-crisis-shadow-pandemic-brief-4-may-2020
• https://africa.unwomen.org/en/news-and-events/stories/2020/04/covid-19-and-the-link-to-violence-against-women-and-girls
• https://www.icirnigeria.org/hall-of-shame-23-states-yet-to-pass-anti-rape-law-majority-are-from-the-north/
• https://eige.europa.eu/gender-based-violence/what-is-gender-based-violence
• https://healthywa.wa.gov.au/Articles/A_E/Common-myths-about-sexual-assault

• Posted in: Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights