The cries of 300 rape survivors echo through the streets of Adamawa, demanding a specific programme to heal their pain and access justice. Adek Ozaveshe, team leader and executive director of the Today for Tomorrow Initiative, an NGO, shared with journalists the survivors’ emotional demands at a youth march in Yola. The march, organised in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), aimed to raise awareness about gender-based violence in the state.
At the heart of the mobilisation are voices of courage and resilience, including that of Adek, herself a survivor, now married. She implores: “Help us build our present and our future, have mercy on our future, on our children, by ending such acts in our society.” The harrowing stories of the survivors reveal sometimes brutal realities, some of them now living with HIV, a consequence of insufficient protection during the acts suffered. This is why a specialized program is essential, not only to soothe the emotional and psychological pain of the survivors, but also to spread messages of empowerment and success.
Ketura Balanso, coordinator of the NGO, urges the perpetrators of these heinous acts to heed this call for responsibility, and issues a stern warning to all those who would intend to commit such crimes. She calls for the mobilization of all stakeholders, including the judicial system, to ensure effective justice for survivors. This legitimate request resonates as a call for a fairer, safer and more enlightened society on these crucial issues.
Thus, the voices of these courageous women call for action, collective solidarity and a firm commitment to the protection of everyone’s fundamental rights. The fight against gender-based violence must not weaken; it requires continued mobilization and widespread awareness so that justice and dignity are guaranteed for all.