Delta: 500 women groups allege institutionalisation of sexual violence against women

Womanifesto, a coalition of over 500 women rights organisations, have raised alarm over what they described as absolute horror on the ongoing campaign of sexual violence being perpetrated against women in Ozoro, Delta State/

The rights groups made their position known in a statement by the Co-Convener of Womanifesto, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi.

They alleged that the sexual violence being perpetrated against women in the community is done under the cover of a so-called traditional festival.

The statement lamented that evidence showed women being stripped naked in public and subjected to mob attacks by groups of men, arguing that such act could not be a genuine culture

Akiyode-Afolabi said: “This is not our culture. 

“This is organised, institutionalised rape culture, and it must be named as such. 

“No tradition, no deity, no community elder, and no cultural practice has the authority to suspend the bodily autonomy of women.

“Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution guarantees every citizen the right to dignity, freedom of movement, and protection from inhumane treatment. 

“These rights do not evaporate at noon. 

“The Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (2015) confirms that the threat of violence is violence in itself.

“Hence, any person or authority that tells women to stay indoors or face violence is committing a crime punishable under Nigerian Law. 

“That any community could codify the sexual assault of women into a festival, decreeing that any woman found outside.”

Womanifesto declared that it condemns the perpetrators of these attacks without reservation or qualification.

It equally condemned the community leaders who sanctioned the violence, and bystanders who watched and did nothing, or worse, filmed the gross, horrific violation of these women.

It said: “We demand, immediately and without delay: That the Delta State Government deploy security forces to Ozoro to halt these attacks and protect women and girls for the remainder of this festival period.

“That the Inspector-General of Police and the Delta State Commissioner of Police make arrests of perpetrators, including those identifiable in circulating video footage, and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law;

“That the Federal Government of Nigeria issue a clear public statement affirming that no traditional festival supersedes constitutional rights or federal law, including the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act;

“That traditional rulers and community leaders in Ozoro publicly and unequivocally disavow any claim that this violence is sanctioned by tradition. 

“We also call upon Nigerian civil society, women’s rights organisations, the National Human Rights Commission, and international bodies, including the United Nations, to treat this situation with the urgency it demands. 

“Videos of women being stripped and assaulted by mobs are evidence of crimes in progress and must be treated as such.”

END.