As a prelude to the celebration of the 16 Days of Activism, Girl Talk Nigeria, on Thursday November 2022, organized a discussion among school girls aged 7 to 16 on sexual harassment, assault and rape. Statistics indicate that one in six girls will be sexually assaulted before they turn 18. In Nigeria, cases of child marriage and sexual assault are on the rise. It is therefore important that girls have the words to describe what is happening to them and the methods to protect themselves.
We asked them if they knew the meaning of the words sexual harassment or sexual assault. We then described the meaning of these words and gave examples of how these things can manifest themselves in society and who to contact in the event of a violation of their rights. They asked questions about what might qualify as sexual harassment and how to recognize when something is wrong. We talked about safe and unsafe touches and the importance of saying no when you feel uncomfortable.
They asked questions about what to do when parents don’t believe them, which is a distinct possibility in Nigerian society, where the image of the family must be protected and the victim’s suffering is seen as a shameful occurrence. They asked if it’s a good idea to report if the perpetrators are the ones providing for the family, and how would it benefit the family if they do.
They asked questions about consent and coercion and if it’s still rape when you say yes but were forced to say it because of the position you were in. We read the provisions of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act that deals with rape. Which says “(1) A person commits the offence of rape if- he or she intentionally penetrates the vagina, anus or mouth of another person with any other part of his or her body or anything else; the other person does not consent to the penetration; or the consent is obtained by force or means of threat or intimidation of any kind or by fear of harm or by means of false and fraudulent representation as to the nature of the act or the use of any substance or addictive capable of taking away the will of such person or in the case of a married person by impersonating his or her spouse.” This also answered their question about whether only men can rape.
We talked about the Lagos State hotline to call, how to talk to your parents, teachers and religious leaders. The duty of people in these positions to report to the police when they are told about an assault or rape. The locations of Sexual Assault Referral Centers in Lagos and how to reach them.
We asked for their feedback, and gave them situations in which someone had been sexually harassed, assaulted or raped and how to appropriately respond when their friends share their experiences of assault. When asked what a safe world for women and girls would mean to them, they said:
“A safe environment for women and girls is a place where they can go and report any form of crime.”
– Tomiwa
“A safe environment for women and girls is an environment where they are free from danger”
– Favour Emmanuel
“A safe environment for women and girls is a place where we can express ourselves without oppression or force”
– Marshalline Mellish
It is 2022 and issues raised during our discussion continue to be overlooked despite laws and new policies being adopted every day. We need to rethink how perpetrators are being held accountable, safety of children and adolescents within familial relations, the implementation and regular monitoring of comprehensive sex education curriculums within schools.
Author: Salare Ipaye, Girl Talk Nigeria Coordinator.
