Gender based violence: Foundation launches trust fund

A multi-million naira trust fund to fight against gender-based violence (GBV) has been launched by Jose Foundation, a non-governmental organisation.

In a statement, Martins Abhulimhen, president, Jose Foundation, said the trust fund became necessary to address the rising cases of gender-based violence across the country.

He said the trust fund will create a “Centre of Expertise” that will bring together cyber sleuths, detectives and academics to tackle the scourge of sexual abuse in Nigeria.

According to him, Jose Foundation is determined to bring child abusers to justice through the instrumentality of the justice system supported by the trust fund.

Abhulimhen said children and the vulnerable should be able to grow up “free from the horrors of sexual abuse, exploitation and trafficking,” even as he described the current situation in Nigeria as appalling and heart-breaking.

He said the measures being put in place by Jose Foundation would further improve its ability to protect children and the vulnerable as the organisation is determined to bring those that would try to steal their childhood to justice no matter how long it takes.

The trust fund, Abhulimhen said, would afford children and women who have been victims of sexual abuse or exploitation will, for the first time in Nigeria, to be able to access a complete range of support services from dedicated experts under one roof, in a pioneering project in the country.

“In Nigeria, there is a grand conspiracy to silence victims of gender-based violence by the offenders and family members in the name of protecting family name and avoiding discrimination,” he said.

“Those who report abuse face multiple interviews with social workers, the police and medical professionals in different settings, and a long wait to go to trial.

“Many cases do not have sufficient evidence to reach the prosecution stage, and often, families are left to navigate the complex health system by themselves, in order to seek support from local police, mental health services or local charities.”

Founded in Abuja in 2003, Jose Foundation has been involved in building the capacities and strengthening the resilience of the most vulnerable groups, children and women in Nigeria and other parts of Africa.

Jose Foundation is an advocate of child and women’s rights and wants all children to be safe and secure.