PAAAVART Takes fight against rape to the nook and crannies of Plateau state

“Our communities are engulfed in a rape predicament”. Lady Vivien

“Women most especially the girl-child are under sieged from sex maniacs” Lady Vivien

“It is a nationwide phenomenon, and the time has come for all of us to pay it the solemn attention it deserves” Lady Vivien

President of the Peace Advancement, Action Against Violence And Rape Foundation (PAAAVARF) Lady Vivien Ebere Abara said, the rape is evil and destroys the lives of victims most especially the young girls.

Driving by the passion to curtail the menace, PAAAVARF took the sensitization campaigned to Rikkos, Utan, Apata, Mai Adiko, Zaramaganda, Kabong, Gada biu, Rukuba Road, Jenta Adamu, Jenta Mangoro, Jenta Makeri, including institution and organizations such as the Headquarters of the Nigerian Plateau State Police Command among others.

At the Headquarters of the Plateau State Police Command, the Commissioner of Police Edward Ebuka explained that the State Command has strengthened its investigation unit and they are committed to tackling the rising cases of rape, child molestation and other criminality.

Ebuka expressed that darkness has never overwhelmed light, therefore collaboration with NGOs such as Peace Advancement; Action Against Violence and Rape Foundation will help curtail the menace or eradicate it completely from the society.

Ever since PAAVART began the sensitization and awareness campaign, the communities visited are responding positively and with a renewed zeal to rise up and protect the girl-child as while as maintaining peaceful coexistence. As a result, So far alot of rape and defilement cases have being exposed and reported accordingly. Moreso, areas with high risk of rapists identified.

Abara promised not only to sustain the fight against rape, but seeks to partner with community-based organizations affiliated with the anti-rape movement that work to help victims of rape, sexual abuse, and sexual violence.

She said in line with the NGO aims and objectives PAAAVART provide a number of services, such as victim advocacy, crisis hotlines, community outreach, and education programs. As social movement organizations, they seek to change social beliefs and institutions, particularly in terms of how rape is understood by medical and legal entities and society at large.

Abara noted that Peace Advancement Action Against Violence And Rape Foundation is a Non-Governmental Organization founded to promote peace amongst Individuals, Communities, Societies and the Global World.

She said the initiative was birthed due to the incessant destructive of lives and properties through Violence, and to promote peace through the creation of violence free clubs in schools as a way to “Catch them young” and teach them the Non-Violence approach which is purely pacific Peace approach and also promote dialogue in the society which is the greatest weapon to peace advancement.

To sensitize the society especially women and girls on the need to speak up in the case of Gender Based Violence e.g. domestic violence, awareness campaign on the ills of all sort of domestic violence and abuse which have left many with permanent disabilities and dire situations and in serious cases, death.

PAAAVART seek to promote activities aimed at educative and protecting the Vulnerable, young adults and under aged against Sexual Harassment, Assault, Abuse, Rape and exposing acts that lead to them.

To promote awareness/sensitization on drug abuse and substance use by youths which is the main vice leading to violence and Rape, Interventions, campaigns on protecting the youth from being used as agents of violence.

To promote and implement human right law on the rights of children for child labor, and human trafficking.

Lady Abara noted that PAAVART is involved in training of community leaders, youths, women and men groups who serve as peer educators in their communities, conducting outreaches to churches, mosques and villages with comprehensive education on Gender Based Violence, peace, sexual harassment and the use of psychoactive substances.

The trainees also train more people who join the team of (PAAAVARF) volunteers and hold discussion forums. PAAAVARF  has a variety of behavior change and communication (BCC) materials on Gender Based Violence and Peace, drug abuse and other related issues in English, Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo languages which are distributed among beneficiaries.

Care and Support for Rape Survivors and the Most Vulnerable: PAAAVARF is committed to increasing the ability of rape survivor’s and most vulnerable people by improving their livelihood and reducing their vulnerability in target communities, through income generating activities. 

This is promoted by helping target beneficiaries to have increased knowledge on entrepreneurship and vocational skills through training and microcredit loans.