From TONY JOHN, Port Harcourt
The National Association Of Seadogs (NAS), Olympus Marino Deck, in collaboration with We The People (WTP), Gender and Development Action (GADA) and Rotary Club, has called for an urgent action to tackle the challenges of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) among undergraduates in institutions in Rivers State.
The group made the call yesterday, during a sensitisation programme on SGBV organised for students selected from the Rivers State University, University of Port Harcourt and Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic.
The Second Mate, NAS, Mr. Ilochi Nnamdi, disclosed the theme as “Sexual and Gender-Based Violence; the Rise in Femicide, Linked to Intimate Partner Violence among Undergraduates in Rivers State”, saying that the event was in commemoration of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
He said that the surge in SGBV and killings of undergraduate students in Rivers State has reached an alarming and distressing level.
Nnamdi continued that, as an organisation dedicated to guarding human rights and advocating for justice, NAS condemned the reprehensible acts and called on the state government to take immediate and decisive action to address the issue of incessant killings of undergraduates in the state.
He stated: “The safety and well-being of students particularly young women, are fundamental rights that should be protected within educational settings. The increasing reports of SGBV incidents and killings have created an atmosphere of fear and insecurity, severely impacting the educational experience and mental health of our students.
“We, therefore, urgently call on the Rivers State Government to institute stringent measures by implementing and enforcing robust policies and mechanisms within educational institutions to prevent, respond to, and address incidents of SGBV effectively.”
He also urged the government to ensure accessible support services by providing accessible and confidential support services, including counseling, legal aid and medical assistance, to survivors of SGBV, ensuring their safety and access to justice.
Nnamdi further noted the need for security agencies to expedite the investigation and prosecution of the perpetrators involved in such heinous acts, ensure they face the full force of the law, to serve as a deterrent to others that involve in such acts.
He added: “It is thus imperative that all stakeholders, including educational institutions, government bodies, law enforcement agencies, and civil society organisations, collaborate to urgently address this escalating crisis and ensure the safety and well-being of our students”.
A representative of GADA, Inringi Irimagha, in her presentation said the importance of the event was to get the government to be more responsive to the SGBV issues in the state.