From Our reporter
A non-governmental organisation, Learning Through Skills Acquisition Initiative(LETSAI) has introduced a three-sign communication to create awareness and report the perpetrators of gender-based violence in Borno state.
The Executive Director (LETSAI), Mariam Aliyu disclosed this while briefing newsmen on the introduction of the voiceless signal for reporting gender-based violence in Maiduguri on Wednesday and said the initiative would help to mitigate the menace of gbv in the affected LGAs.
Represented by Susan Tanwie, a member of the Borno women-led organisation, Aliyu urged the general public to kindly report cases of gender-based violence using this sign language to enable us to bring an end to the menace.
“First, an okay response is shown with the thumb up (This specific sign is used by the survivor to confirm the response).
“Secondly, a pointing index finger sign (used by either the reporter or the staff to confirm if the perpetrator is close by to the reporter).
“Thirdly, the tapping sign of the index and the thumb signifies danger, and the faster the tapping the more severe the situation of the reporter (This sign is only used by the survivor or reporter).
She explained that cases reported include intimate partner violence, rape, sexual harassment, and physical abuse.
“Test-run research on the voiceless messages conducted in Shani and Dikwa revealed that a total of 755 participants reported cases of GBV through the voiceless reporting method.
“From January 2020 till December 2022, the cases reported include intimate partner violence, rape, sexual harassment, and physical abuse.
She added, ” Many times, survivors of gender-based violence especially women and girls have found themselves in situations where they cannot report abuse by talking, especially when the perpetrators.
“We are committed to bringing an end to violence against vulnerable persons, especially women and girls,” she said.
The project was supported by the United Nations Children’s Education Funds(UNICEF), the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund(UNCERF), and The Government of Germany(KWF), and implemented by the Learning Through Skills Acquisition Initiative(LETSAI).
