C'River: Project Alert Launches Campaign To Curb Sexual Violence In Educational Institutions
By Ekanem Asuquo Calabar
A sensitization programme meant to equip and embolden students of educational institutions to speak out against sexual harassment to curtail the excesses of randy lecturers and the male gender has kicked off in selected schools in Cross River State.
Organized by Project Alert on Violence Against Women with support from the African Women Development Fund (AWDF), Ghana, the campaign is a fallout of earlier research carried out by Project Alert aimed at exploring the best panacea against the alarming rate of sexual violence prevailing in campuses of higher learning.
Addressing students of College of Education Akamkpa in Cross River State, the Coordinator of Girls Power Initiative, Mrs Comfort Ikpeme who stood in for the Head of the Programme, Mrs. Ndodeye Bassey revealed that the initiative is meant to create awareness on the modes and scope of sex violence in schools.
Mrs. Ikpeme said the sensitisation programme is geared towards imparting students with the requisite knowledge on how to deal with sexual molesters on the prowls in academic environments around the state.
Speaking, Dr. Glory Eteng implored students to be alert and bold to speak out while avoiding flash points that heightened vulnerability.
She listed the consequences to include depression, academic setbacks, stigmatization, and suicidal thoughts arising from low self-esteem instigated by body shaming or blame scenarios after being violated.
Dr Eteng stated that the Cross River state government has enacted necessary laws notable as the Child Rights Act and the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law with severe punitive measures intended to address the menace of sexual violence.
She enjoined the students to always alert relevant stakeholders in the campaign against the dastardly act to ensure prompt legal action against perpetrators.
Speaking, the President of the Student Union Government (SUG), Comrade Efa Alfred Effiong expressed delight over the choice of school for the enlightenment campaign noting that the awareness would curtail the incidences of sexual harassment ravaging campuses of higher institutions.
In his remarks, the Chancellor of the College, Dr Paul Oko said the campaign will complement existing stringent measures adopted by school management aimed at checkmating the monster.
Highlights of the event included the unveiling of emergency hotlines as well as the setting up of Anti-Sexual Violence Clubs to propagate the awareness campaign within and outside the school classroom.
