ActionAid harps on safety education environment for females

ActionAid Nigeria has stressed the need for government to put in place adequate infrastructure in university campuses in the country to reduce violence against female students. The organization, during its campaign for Safe Cities for Women and Girls which held at the Benue State University (BSU) in Makurdi, also urged government to improve the design […]

ActionAid Nigeria has stressed the need for government to put in place adequate infrastructure in university campuses in the country to reduce violence against female students.
The organization, during its campaign for Safe Cities for Women and Girls which held at the Benue State University (BSU) in Makurdi, also urged government to improve the design of public spaces for women and children because of the fear of abuse in such spaces.
“This campaign aims to reduce violence against women and girls living in poverty and exclusion as they move in public spaces, improve their safety, mobility and access to public services,” the organisation said.
Speaking at a one-day sensitisation campaign, Program Manager of Women’s Rights (Nigeria), Nkechi Ilochi-Omekedo, noted that there was need for adequate infrastructure in three areas which are, building more on-campus hostels with adequate facilities, especially for women; improving electricity supply for street lights in strategic places; and the employment of more trained and equipped security personnel.
She urged government to ensure that universities put in place systems where harassment and violence can be safely reported and handled effectively, adding that such mechanisms must ensure that perpetrators are dealt with in ways that have no negative implications on the complainant thereby leading to increase in trust of female students to use the mechanism and system.
The organisation therefore suggested the revival of the schools guidance and counselling units to be more responsive to the needs of female students and actually reach out to female students to build a cordial and trusting relationship with them.
According to Ilochi-Omekedo, gender-based violence also restricts the movement of female students such that off-campus students have to finish their on-campus activities early and can get home before dark adding that in many schools there are “no-go areas” where women cannot safely go to, particularly in the evenings so female students cannot engage in activities with academic benefits like reading in classrooms or the library at night for fear of their personal safety.