By Blessing Alawode
The Desk Officer for Ibadan South Diocese, Anglican Compassion and Development Initiative, ACADI, Revd. Dr. Adigun Julius, has called for increased awareness and reporting of gender-based violence, stressing that both men and women can be victims, although women are more commonly affected.
Rev’d Julius made this known while speaking on EVE’S LOUNGE on Crest 91.1 FM, where he defined gender-based violence as any act of violence that violates an individual’s human rights on the basis of socially ascribed differences between males and females.
“Gender based violence is actually any harmful acts that violates human rights perpetrated against a person, based on socially ascribed differences between male and female.Gender based violence targets any person because of his or her gender but women are mostly affected because of gender norms that label them has having an unequal power with men”.
He explained that the Anglican Church’s approach to tackling gender-based violence focuses on sensitisation, encouraging victims to report cases, supporting survivors and ensuring that perpetrators face appropriate consequences.
“We are coming from the angle of sensitizing people more. You know when you don’t know the use of a thing there is bound to be an abuse. You don’t even know you’re communicating a crime, you don’t know you are violating somebody’s right you are thinking it’s your right. So we are coming from the angle of creating awareness . Some people are doing it because they don’t really know it’s violence, that they are doing something that is not good that is not right, so we are coming first from creating awareness “.
The ACADI official said the church also works with relevant agencies to support victims and facilitate prosecution where necessary.
“We are talking about awareness, encouraging people to report it and not just reporting it and punishing people that are involved , we are also looking at helping victims, people that have been violated so that whatever has been done to them the aftereffects we want to reduce it. We are also open to making sure that people that violate other people are punished , we can lead people to agencies or government that would help prosecute if there’s need be for it”
He warned that religious leaders and members of the church who conceal cases of gender-based violence could also face consequences, stressing that perpetrators should not be shielded because of their position.
“If somebody is violated and you are aware and you try to cover it up then you are an accomplice and if it is reported you are also going to be punished. It doesn’t matter if you are a priest or a pastor”
On the church’s position on divorce, Rev’d Julius said the church does not support divorce and therefore places emphasis on preventive measures, including counselling and safe spaces for victims of abuse.
“The church does not support divorce that is why before it gets to that that’s why this program is being introduced we have spent so much on it……. well some people have gotten to that point that’s why we are saying when there are such don’t keep quiet….If the problem persist there is even safe homes, our diocese don’t have it yet but other diocese have it a place where people that are violated and needed to be away so that that thing can be resolved are kept”
He said counselling could involve church-based or psychological counselling, while safe homes are available in some dioceses for victims who require temporary separation from their environment.
Speaking on the effectiveness of Nigerian laws in addressing gender-based violence, He identified lack of evidence and failure to report cases as some of the challenges affecting the prosecution of perpetrators.
He, however, maintained that the laws can produce results when properly followed and disclosed that the Anglican Church works with other individuals and agencies to ensure appropriate follow-up on reported cases.
“….When there are reportage and we need to follow it up we have other people that we work with to help to do this ………..It is not even the law that is weak but sometimes the knowledge of people that happen to be the victim maybe you don’t even report ……..our laws when it is properly followed up can bring results”
On collaboration with other Christian denominations, The Reverend said the Anglican Church is currently focused on addressing gender-based violence within its own structures before considering broader collaboration.
“Well we are still dealing with ours first, maybe when we have seen that we have done a substantial work within us ,we can now collaborate”.
He added that the church plans to intensify sensitisation through the media and visits to schools affiliated with the church, with the aim of educating both adults and children about gender-based violence and prevention.
Rev’d Dr Adigun Julius also disclosed that victims can report cases at the Anglican Diocese office located at the Cathedral Church of Saint David, Kudeti, Ibadan.
