Standup for Women Society Edo State Chapter Embarks on Advocacy Visit, Educates the Girl Child on Fundamental Rights, Dangers of Paedophiliacs

By Ijeoma Umeh

The  need for parents, guardians,  teachers and other caregivers to pay more attention to the psychosocial well being of the girl-child/adolescent children formed crux of discourse today in Benin City as the  Standup for Women Society, SWS, Edo State Chapter, a Non-Governmental Organization in the forefront of women-centred advocacy and empowerment,  embarked on an Advocacy Visit to Uyiosa Primary School, in Benin City, Edo state.

Also in attendance was Mr Erhabor Eghosa,  HOS, Quality Assurance Unit of the Oredo Local Government Education Authority, and Mr Iyare Raphael Igninere, representative of SUBEB, Edo state. 

Liberator Daisy Osunde, Chairperson of the organization who led members of the state executive on the Advocacy Visit addressed  Primary 5 pupils of the school, mainly girls, on their fundamental human rights and  their sexual health, and gave them specific guidelines on how to identify paedophiles and other sexual predators who may lurk around their homes,       neighbourhoods and school. 

"Paedophiliacs are psychopaths who take undue sexual advantage of children and exploit them to gain mental satisfaction.   They may be found anywhere, including in your  home." 

Liberator Osunde listed several points on how to clearly identify paedophiles, including outward show of friendship and affection towards children  and their mothers by familiar persons,  giving of gifts and pacifiers, sending children on unusual errands,  fondling with children's private areas and luring them into enclosed spaces with promises of rewards.

"Even if your fathers, uncles or brothers ask you to sit on their laps, graciously decline and sit elsewhere and properly too. Those who may wish to sexually exploit or assault you could come from your immediate families too! Do not let anyone lure you into watching pornographic images or videos, report any ontoward gestures to your parents, and do not give in to threats. Speak up!" The Chairperson stated. 

She enjoined parents, teachers and other caregivers to be vigilant and pay special attention to their adolescent children with a view to guiding them, regulating their conduct and protecting them from sexual predators.   

The Chairperson also educated the pupils on how to maintain healthy living and best practices in adopting personal hygienic behaviour. 

"I am extremely pleased about the way you all appear in school today,  looking neat and tidy. Please, keep it up. Your personal hygiene is what will keep you healthy at all times. Do not regard yourselves as children who attend government school and therefore live and behave anyhow. Government school gives one of the best form of education. Presidents, governors, ministers, lawmakers and commissioners, including many professionals also attended government schools. Among you will come out all these leaders one day. " 

Earlier, Mrs Stella Ozabor,   Headmistress of Uyiosa Primary School welcomed the group and stated that Uyiosa Primary School, just like most government schools in Edo state take special time in teaching the children, particularly the adolescent girls, on their sexual and reproductive health and in giving them up-to-date information on sexual violence, rape and other forms of violence against young girls which has pervaded the country in recent times. She made the pupils recite some of the lessons which came as chants to the admiration of all. 

In his remarks, Mr Erhabor Eghosa, HOS, Quality Assurance Unit, Oredo Local Government Education Authority commended members of the SWS Edo state Chapter for the Advocacy Visit and stated that government continues to reform education to include opportunities for well meaning change agents to partner with government in grooming the children and putting them on a pedestal to grow into well formed adults and future leaders, hence government representatives attended the event.  

Also speaking , Mr Iyare Raphael Igbinere, Special Campaigns Coordinator, Social Mobilization Department,  State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB stated that it is a sad reality that daily the news headlines are saturated with stories of rape and defilement and noted that the advocacy visit was timely in the face of inundating incidence of sexual violence in the society. He expressed appreciations to the organization for the advocacy visit and implored the leadership to sustain the pace. 

Highpoint of the event was the reading of the SWS Guidelines by the pupils on How to Identify/Avoid Paedophiles, and presentation of gift items, including books and other writing materials, toiletries, among other items to the pupils by the Advocacy team. 

The Advocacy Visit is part of events to mark this year's International Day of the Girl-Child, however,  the organization plans to make the Advocacy Visit to schools a  routine exercise in order to create more awareness among young persons on the prevalent issue of rape and defilement.