Bringing Lagos abuse survivors out of the darkness

DW (English)

CEE HOPE provides shelter for women escaping abuse in Lagos' poorest areas. Courageous survivors help create light in darkness, and take on the fight against gender-based violence.

Transcript

00:00Here in the Makoko community of Lagos, Faith Okbonna is turning her pain into purpose.

00:07Women in this room are survivors of gender-based violence, including Faith.

00:11She has dedicated her life to educating and supporting women who feel trapped, helping

00:16them reclaim their voices.

00:18Gender-based violence are in different forms, and the majority of the time it has to be

00:24with people very close to you.

00:25People that should protect you are now the ones hurting you.

00:29Faith's work, and that of others like her, is a beacon of hope in the battle to stop

00:33gender-based violence.

00:35According to the World Health Organization, one in three women worldwide will experience

00:39physical or sexual abuse in their lifetime, a staggering reality.

00:43I was raped from the age of five until I was 17, ranging from cousins to uncles to nephews

00:53to aunties.

00:54It was a gang rape, and it was a bitter experience because it happened right under my father's

01:03roof.

01:04If C-HOPE can bring me out of the darkness, I can do the same to other people.

01:11The Centre for Children's Health, Education, Orientation and Protection, or C-HOPE, is

01:16one of four privately-owned shelters in Lagos.

01:19Founded by journalist Betty Abba in 2013, the NGO provides refuge for survivors of abuse

01:24like Vivian.

01:28My mum died nine years ago, and my mum's elder sister came to pick her up.

01:34So on this fateful day, I was the one who came back at night.

01:39He came to our room, so he raped me, kept on molesting me for three good years, since

01:45when I was 12.

01:47My cousin called some of the policemen at our site, we went to the police station, and

02:00they detained him, and now he's still in the court.

02:05Many children in this community centre experience violence and trauma.

02:08They are taught skills, counselled and educated about gender-based violence.

02:13The hope is to end the cycle of violence.

02:16I want girls who are being abused to come out of their shells, out of the darkness.

02:21I want them to have a life, the life they've always dreamed of.

02:26Because in this trauma, they can't have that life.

02:30Symbolising unity and resilience, cultural dance is integrated into today's campaign

02:35for the children, drawing more children in and making it a memorable day.

02:40But the fight is far from over.

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