Former Miss Nigeria, 2013, Ezinne Akudo, has described sexual violence as a crime against humanity and infringement on the rights of the victims.
Speaking on Sunday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, Akudo said that victims of sexual violence carried the psychological trauma for life.
She said that the seeming lack of justice and care for victims of sexual violence prompted the inauguration of her project, Eight Foundation Rape Crisis Centre, in Lekki, Lagos.
“We live in a world where women are abused daily and are unable to speak up. One out of four women experiences some form of sexual violence in their lifetime.
“This crime can take place at anytime and can happen to anybody. Sadly, the society’s response to this heinous crime has led victims to believe that silence is the best option.
“This is why I have decided to set up the centre, to provide change for women and girls, who are victims of sexual violence,” she said.
A director in the foundation, Chioma Nwigwe, said that the centre would provide hospital-based management protocol in the form of medical care, counselling, rehabilitation and legal assistance.
“The foundation is in strong partnership with the Lagos State Office of the Public Defender for Legal Services, the Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team and the Mirabel Centre for Forensic Testing,” she said.
Nwigwe also decried the silence that many parents of the victims of rape adopt, instead of reporting the case for action, and called for a change of attitude.
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