BOLD Hearts Network, a group of Beautiful Outstanding Ladies with Disabilities in Nigeria has sensitized women with Disabilities totaling 46 on gender based violence. The group targets making women with Disabilities speak up in the face of violence and discrimination.
In a one-day awareness raising, capacity building seminar organised onsite and via zoom with the theme “Gender Based Violence against Women and Girls with Disabilities: Silence is not Golden.”
Top on the discussion were Women and girls with disabilities as subject to intersecting forms of discrimination related to sexual and, gender-based violence. The COVID-19 crisis exposed many underlying inequalities and aggravated the situation of women and girls with disabilities, one of the key areas of real concern being sexual and gender oriented violence. Stopping Gender Based Violence (GBV) is a collective responsibility which includes Persons with Disabilities, and the victimized women themselves.
To join proferring solutions and improve response to Gender based violence for women of faith who are also women with disabilities, BOLD Heart Network, with support of World Council of Churches, put this seminar together.
Reverend Iyke Anaga the World Council of Churches representative, in his session, Biblical Reflection on Gender Based Violence, took his lesson from the book of judges 19. He emphasized the possible consequences of keeping silent in the face of GBV and the recurring effects it could have if not spoken against by all, not just the abused, but all. Everyone, including leaders in communities, institutions and religious settings must speak up against this societal evil.
Sharon Ifeoma, Director of Alpha Focus Foundation and executive of BOLD Hearts Network in her session focused on the core concepts of Gender-Based Violence and Disabilities. She enumerated some manifestations and forms of GBV experienced by women and girls with disabilities, these include deprivation of liberty, harassment based on disability and family members forcing their girls to have sex.
“Breaking the silence starts by talking to yourself’, Sharon Ifeoma emphasised.
Ndifreke ‘Freky’ Andrew-Essien, the Executive Director of FAECARE Foundation and Coordinator of BOLD Hearts Network in her session, started with a visualization exercise on the power of words, participants were taken through exercises that showed them how disrespectful words associated with disability could take power from women with disabilities and make them more vulnerable and susceptible to GBV.
“Some words may have negative effects, but you have the power to reject them immediately and replace with favorable names and words, vocally or mentally, it is important to take your power back”. Freky Andrew-Essien said.
Mr Tombari Dumka-Kote in his session emphasized the importance of breaking the scourge of silence. Hotlines were given out to participants for access to help for themselves and other WWDs.
Mrs Uri Edmund, of Doctors without Borders, in her session on Mental Health and GBV explained that her organization focuses on providing support to victims of rape and sexual violence. She rounded up by re-echoing the need to speak up, she stressed on the importance of talking to appropriate people who can listen and understand. She cautioned referring to someone who could make the experience worse.
The Seminar which held onsite in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, was very interactive and informative. Participants wore black to symbolize Thursday in Black (TIB) campaign, where individuals put on black every Thursday to signify and remind society on the importance of preventing violence against women.
“By engaging the women with disabilities in this seminar, we increased their awareness and educated them on different aspects of sexual and gender based violence as well as preventive measures. We were able to increase their involvement in GBV prevention while assuring a safe space and access to information on help for women with disabilities with respect to GBV.” The group said.