Nigerian women, Catholics in particular have been urged to always imitate the virtues of the blessed Virgin Mary, and ensure they speak up and help in tackling criminal acts, especially Gender Based Violence (GBV), a social problem and sin against human dignity. The charge was given by Mrs. Judith Bulama, Coordinator, Catholic Women Organisation of Nigeria, Lagos Archdiocese (CWONLA), Lekki Deanery and Guest Speaker at the Catholic Women Organisation of Nigeria (CWON), Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, Victoria Island at an awareness forum on Gender Based Violence, held recently in the church premises. Speaking on the various forms, preventive measures and way forward, Mrs. Bulama said silence is not an option for GBV, adding that our faith as Christians, especially as Catholics, demands action, compassion, and responsibility.
She said since God created mankind in His image, when we suffer any harm, it means that the image of God is suffering, therefore, to harm a woman, man or child is to insult the image of God. According to her, “St. Pope John Paul said every violation of the dignity of a woman is a profound offense against God Himself. That’s the Church saying it. Apart from what the Scripture says, that is the Church’s teaching. “Pope Francis calls any form of violence within the home a cowardly degradation and a desecration of the body of Christ. Our Church does not tolerate violence. Our Church only teaches protection, healing, and justice.” She listed laws protecting people in Nigeria against GBV to include Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act 2015, which covers all people; women, men, and children.
According to her, “This act criminalises rape, domestic violence, emotional and physical abuse, harmful widowhood practices, abandonment, economic abuse, forced isolation and harmful cultural practices.” In the panel session held on the occasion, Commodore Owens Izilien, parish CMO Vice Chairman called for concrete action to GBV, stating that stigmatisation is a major challenge as people find it difficult to report an abusive spouse, because they want to portray their families and marriage as being perfect. He urged the organisations, particularly, the leadership to ensure that they are able to identify, get involved and resolved cases of GBV, as he also urged families to make prayers their watch word.
Another Panelist, Mrs. Uloma Mgbeahuruike urged organisations to continue to create awareness so that victims of GBV will speak out and get help. She tasked the victims to ensure they speak up, adding that they can talk to the clergy and religious, as well as leadership of the CWO and CMO, and other persons they can confide in. For Dr. Priscilla Eitokpa, she urged the victims not to keep silent as this empowers the abuser. “We have people in the Church we can speak to. You must have someone who you can trust who will not spread the news, like the priests. There are Christian brothers and sisters, confidants you can talk to that will counsel you and counselling is very important in bringing the victim back to society’, she said.
