By Bisodun Bassey
IBADAN, OYO STATE — A member of the European Union Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (EU ESGBV) Media Corps M02, Princess Roxanne Bisodun, has taken the campaign against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) to rural communities in Oyo State, urging residents to reject silence, stigma and impunity and seek justice for survivors.
The sensitisation programme, held between August 26 and 31, 2026, covered Jiboye, Bode'gbo, Gbekuba, Akufo and Ibarapa communities in Iddo Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The outreach formed part of the first phase of a three-month ethical reporting action plan under a four-year European Union-funded project aimed at combating sexual and gender-based violence and strengthening accountability in the fight against SGBV.
The initiative is being implemented by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and facilitated by International IDEA, with a focus on responsible journalism, ethical reporting, accuracy, survivor-centred reporting, functional Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARC) and appropriate referral pathways for victims and survivors.
Speaking during the community engagements, Bisodun reaffirmed her commitment to responsible and ethical reporting of SGBV cases, stressing that media practitioners must avoid sensational headlines and narratives capable of exposing survivors to further trauma, stigma or discrimination.
She said the media should instead prioritise accuracy, confidentiality, survivor protection and public education, while helping communities understand how to prevent SGBV, identify perpetrators and report incidents through appropriate channels.
According to her, sexual and gender-based violence should no longer be treated as a private family dispute or matter to be settled behind closed doors.
“SGBV is not a family matter; it is a crime under the law,” she told residents.
She also highlighted the importance of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, particularly its domestication in Oyo State in 2020, urging residents to understand their rights and pursue lawful avenues for justice.
Bisodun warned that silence and stigmatisation often allow perpetrators to continue abusing vulnerable persons, stressing that landlords, religious leaders, parents, tenants and caretakers all have a responsibility to respond rapidly whenever abuse is suspected or reported.
She urged community leaders to develop a collective response mechanism capable of protecting survivors, facilitating referrals and ensuring that victims receive appropriate support.
The media advocate further informed residents about available support services, including counselling, safe shelter where necessary, medical assistance and legal support.
She encouraged residents to report cases of sexual assault, abuse, cultural violence and other harmful practices through the appropriate authorities, including NAPTIP's toll-free reporting line: 0800 582 4632.
Bisodun assured survivors that confidentiality and safety remain central to the reporting and referral process, explaining that relatable cases could be used for public sensitisation without revealing the identities or personal details of survivors.
She said such an approach would help encourage victims and witnesses to come forward without fear of exposure, retaliation or further trauma.
The outreach also provided an opportunity for residents to share concerns about the prevalence of sexual violence and other forms of abuse within their communities.
More than 200 people attended the sensitisation activities, including about 55 women, over 100 youths between the ages of 12 and 17, and 24 elderly men.
Thousands of awareness flyers were also distributed through house-to-house engagements and community outreach activities across the participating communities.
During private engagements conducted with informed consent and appropriate confidentiality, five survivors of abuse reportedly shared their experiences with the sensitisation team.
The disclosures also brought attention to concerns surrounding sexual abuse of children in some of the communities, highlighting the urgent need for stronger prevention, early reporting, community vigilance and access to survivor-centred services.
The revelations prompted residents to call for more frequent SGBV sensitisation programmes, particularly programmes targeting parents, landlords, young people, religious leaders and other community gatekeepers.
Members of the landlords' association who participated in the engagement pledged to expose cases of violence, report abuse to the appropriate authorities and protect survivors from stigmatisation and re-traumatisation.
They also expressed appreciation to the facilitators for bringing the sensitisation campaign to the communities at a time when greater public awareness and coordinated action against sexual and gender-based violence are urgently needed.
The organisers emphasised that ending SGBV requires more than awareness campaigns. It requires communities to speak up, survivors to have access to justice and support, institutions to respond effectively, and the media to report cases ethically without compromising the dignity, privacy and safety of survivors.
The campaign therefore reinforced a simple but powerful message to residents: embrace justice for survivors, speak up, seek help and break the silence — support and reporting pathways are available.
The organisers called on communities across Oyo State to strengthen collaboration with relevant government agencies, civil society organisations, health providers, legal practitioners and other stakeholders to ensure that survivors are protected and perpetrators are held accountable.
