By Austin Angwe, Makurdi
Concerned Women International Development Initiative,CWIDI, has disclosed that the two- year Amplify Change – Support project under the theme; Enhancing Protection from Gender – Based Violence,GBV, for Female Sex Workers,FSWs,in Benue State has increased confidence among the vulnerable category, particularly female sex workers to report cases of Gender Based Violence.
Speaking Friday during CWIDI’s Amplify Change Project Dissemination and Close – Out Workshop held at Hallydays Hotel Makurdi, Director of Programmes for the organization,Mrs Bridget Okeke, revealed that the initiative has fostered stronger collaboration among justice actors as well as improved awareness among service providers on the human rights of sex workers.
Okeke, represented by Mrs. Becky Gbihi, State Project Officer of CWIDI, recalled that over the past 24- months,the project has worked to address critical gaps such as improving knowledge of existing legal protections and strengthening access to justice for female sex workers,FSWs who experience gender based violence,GBV.
She said throughout the period of training, dialogues and engagements, CWIDI supported women particularly Adolescent Girls and Young Women, AGYW, who are Female Sex Workers, FSWs,to better understand their rights under the Revised National Gender Policy and Violence Against Persons Prohibition,VAPP law 2015, adding that the organization has also brought together Justice sector actors,the Media and Health workers to increase quality of support available to survivors.
The CWIDI’s Director of Programmes, commended its partners,the Amplify Change for believing in the project through logistical support which made the journey successful.
She on behalf of the organization expressed appreciation to the Benue State Government and all its actors, the media, health workers, community leaders and beneficiaries who trusted CWIDI by attending various trainings as well as sharing life experiences, adding that the exercise has given renewed hope that every woman regardless of identity or occupation deserves the right to access justice, protection and dignity.
In a presentation, State Project Officer of CWIDI,Mrs. Becky Gbihi, told stakeholders that they visited six brothels in Gboko,Aliade and Makurdi and it was discovered during the exercise that Female Sex Workers, face daily discrimination, harassment and violence from both clients and law enforcement officers.
She said fear of arrest and stigma has prevented the FSWs from reporting abuses, adding that the study also revealed that there are no laws specifically protecting these category of people, although the VAPP law offer these vulnerable group general protection.
According to Gbihi,it was also found out that limited knowledge of legal rights and high cost of legal processes hinder female sex workers access to justice as well as Government Agencies such as the Ministry of Women Affairs lacking capacity to implementing the VAPP law.
She revealed also that support services by CSOs are equally inadequate as the FSWs are always left without essential legal and psychological support.
Gbihi said CWIDI at the end of the exercise recommended strengthening awareness of rights and legal literacy among female sex workers and other vulnerable groups, training of police and judicial personnel on GBV sensitivity and human rights standards.
The project she said also recommended establishment of specialized GBV courts to handle related cases promptly, provide legal aid and psychological services tailored to the needs of FSWs, engage community leaders and stakeholders to reduce stigma and discrimination as well as ensure full implementation of VAPP law and appointment of protection officers.
CWIDI also request for establishment of an offense register to ensure proper documentation and coordination of referral pathways among justice sectors and CSOs.
Sharing their life changing experiences, two participants who simply gave their names as Grace and Bridget said the project exposed them to many things but most importantly their rights irrespective of occupation and what to do when such rights are violated.
Stakeholders including representatives from Human Rights Commission, Ministry of Women Affairs, Federation of Women Lawyers,FIDA, and Department of Citizens’ Right on the other hand commended CWIDI for the project and assured the organization of support for similar initiatives.
