YEAC PARTICIPATES IN “ONE WEEK STREET WALK AGAINST RAPE AND SGBV” IN RIVERS STATE
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has commence a one-week walk against rape, sexual and gender based violence (SGBV) in Nigeria tagged “ONE WEEK ACTIVISM AGAINST RAPE AND SGBV”. The Commission embarked on this advocacy following an upsurge in cases of rape, sexual and gender based violence across the country in the wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic. In Rivers State, Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC), as an organization also partnering with the South South Office of the NHRC in the tracking and reporting of human rights violations under the Centre Advocacy One Million Youth Volunteer Network of Human Rights Defenders and Promoters in the Niger Delta joined the walk in Port Harcourt on June 16, 2020. The walk which started on June 15 would end on June 19, 2020.
The Street walkers carried placards with inscriptions such as “Real Men don’t rape”, “NO TO RAPE”, “THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR RAPE AND SGBV”, ETC.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Director of Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre, Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface who was accompanied by some volunteers including Amarachi Alozie said Government should take steps to strengthen the fight against rape and SGBV across Nigeria. Comrade Fyneface who was in the early hours of the day on radio at WISH, 99.5FM Port Harcourt campaigning against rape and SGBV and sensitizing the public as part of the street walk also called on the government to great special court that would try rape cases and dispense justice within three months, the same way Electoral Tribunals are done. He particularly frowned at violence sexual and domestic violence and rapist that are on rampage in the country and demanded that such perpetrators such be taken off the streets and into designated correctional centres. Adding that REAL MEN DON’T RAPE!
The Street Walk which commenced at the Rivers State secretariat to Rivers State Police Command to Rivers State House of Assembly, etc later terminated at the starting point at the State Secretariat and continues in Rivers State like other part of the country till June 19, 2020.
