NGO seeks more sensitisation on rights of victims of gender-based violence

ARDA, a Lagos-based development communication outfit, has called for a broader sensitisation on the rights of victims of gender-based violence (GBV) in Nigeria.

Speaking at the screening of “Beckma”, a film produced by ARDA, Best Okoduwa, the movie director, said the government should invest in promoting the awareness of the rights of women experiencing domestic violence.

The screening was held on Wednesday at the EbonyLife cinema, Lagos, commemorating the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence.

Okoduwa said one of the ways to create more awareness is for the government to invest in movies and documentaries that tell the girl child stories.

“I think the government should, with a lot of momentum, invest in sensitisation. Sensitisation is key,” he said.

“It is extremely key because I could tell you something about the world in all of this. People do not even know that they can be liberated from these problems.

“So they stopped themselves so much in these problems, and they have accepted it as reality and not for people who still do well enough to make them realise that it is not okay. It can be liberated. Then, they will be asking for help to be liberated.

“The most effective way is through storytelling, making them invest more in films that tell the stories, invest more in documentaries that tell the stories, invest more in the information that tells us doing this is really not rocket science. It is just what it is. We are just not doing enough.”

The movie, “Beckma” chronicles the story of a young lady who became a vigilante due to her childhood experience to rescue victims of rape, domestic abuse, and forced marriage.

She also opened a blog where she entertains victims of gender-based violence to share their stories.

The character also committed herself to girl-child advocacy while fighting crimes in a local community she was transferred to as a serving corp member.

Beckma’s advocacy would come with a price after she fought on behalf of Enitan, one of her students in school.

The movie explores the theme of gender-based violence, the rights of girl-child, and religious and cultural sentiments.