Lagos, Jan. 26, 2023: A Lagos-based Non-Government Organisation (NGO), Life After Abuse Foundation (LAAF), has called for the establishment of additional rehabilitation centres for survivors of sexual and drug abuse.
The President of the foundation, Miss Halima Layeni, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos.
She said “there is a need to create safe spaces, systems and structures for men where they can speak out and seek help when faced with the trauma of sexual violence or drug abuse.
“Sexual abuse can happen to anyone, no matter the age, religion, economic status or gender.”
According to her, establishing a social support centre specifically tailored to the legal, medical and psychological needs of boys and men who have been sexually abused will promote a peaceful, safe and socially healthy society.
She explained that in Lagos State, female survivors of abuse have free access to more than enough social support centres that attend to their legal, medical and psychological needs.
She, however, said “unfortunately, we can’t say the same for boys and men; battered boys and men do not even have access to basic support from family, friends and the communities.
“It is easy to forget that males are equally humans and they equally suffer from the long-term effects of sexual abuse.”
Layeni, therefore, urged the government to put in place policies and legal frameworks that would address sexual violence in society.
She said that a lot of men who suffered sexual abuse had been neglected in society.
According to her, it is important to note that gender equality is not just exclusive to promoting the rights of women and girls, but the rights of both men and women.
She added that “if a man comes out to complain about being sexually abused by a lady or a woman, the society should pay attention to him and take it up.
“So, going forward, there’s a need to put in place policies, raise awareness and create structural programmes that will prioritise men’s inclusion so that
any woman/lady that sexually abuses a man will equally be punished.
“We need to drive education campaigns to schools, churches and homes because if we don’t enlighten people on what is wrong, then it becomes a lifestyle.
“The truth is that some people are still not knowledgeable enough to understand that men can equally be raped.”
