Tackling gender-based violence requires bravery and the willingness to stand up for what is right, says British Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos, Mr Jonny Baxter.
According to him, gender-based violence is “an evil that happens far too often” and also requires that adults become positive models and show a different way of living.
Baxter made this known on Thursday in Lagos at an event to commemorate the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, which addresses and proffers solutions to the scourge of gender-based violence (GBV).
The 16-day activism started globally on Nov. 25 and will end on Dec. 10.
The event, organised by the British Deputy High Commission and the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) sought to address critical issues that impact adolescent boys.
The goal of the programme was also to foster positive change in adolescent boys’ attitudes and behaviours.
The envoy urged adults to become mentors to younger ones, consistently talk about sexual and gender-based violence and take steps toward ending it.
“We need to think about the role of men and boys in changing the occurrence of GBV in our culture and to succeed, we all need to work together, make efforts and change the way in which we act.”
Baxter further lauded the DSVA for creating The Kings Club to help young boys talk through issues and think about what they could do to be positive influences.
At the event, new members were inducted into The Kings Club, an intervention of the DSVA.
Established in 2018, the club aims to raise boys who will take a stand in promoting positive masculinity, stand against violence and make right decisions at every point in their lives.
The Project Manager of the club, Damilare Adewusi, said since its inception, over 3000 boys have been engaged and inducted.
He noted that the success of the club has been a collective effort towards building a generation of young people who can take a stand for sexual and gender-based violence.
Speaking on intervention programmes for survivors of domestic violence, Adewusi said the club conducted therapy sessions where psychologists engage those who have experienced SGBV.
“For every client that comes to report, it’s important they see a psychologist to help them heal pending when we resolve issues that brought them in the first place.
“The testimonies from this programme have been remarkable and we have seen students who used the opportunities in the club to build careers,” Adewusi said.
On the part of Ifiok Esang, a Mentor at the club, said boys should be taught to accommodate the other gender respectfully, as potential leaders in the workplace and society.
“This sensitisation is not for the boys alone but also for the parents, carers and communities within which we live to create an environment where boys are expressive.”
According to him, it would be an error to lean only towards the girl child as a victim of GBV.
Esang added that the boy child should also be made to understand that it is safe to talk about such experiences.