Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association advocates end to sexual abuse in barracks

The Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) has advocated eradication of sexual abuse in barracks as well as the nation at large.

The association lamented that the advocacy was against the backdrop of prevalence of sexual abuse and exploitation suffered by both male and female genders in the society.

It added that many of the cases were unreported but must be reported by .

A United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) report has said that six out of every 10 children experience some form of violence, and one in four girls and 10 per cent of boys have been sexually abused.

The DEPOWA President, Oghogho Musa, who spoke in Abuja on Saturday during a seminar for barracks youths to mark her one year in office, expressed the organisation’s desire to reduce the menace within the barrack communities.

“The menace of sexual exploitation and abuse is prevalent in our society. Many occurrences go unreported and the barracks community and its environs are not exempted,” she said.

“Today we have an opportunity to discuss this and we echo the voice of Antonio Guterres, the United Nations Secretary-General in stating that, ‘Sexual Exploitation and Abuse have no place in our society.”

“We recognize the severity of the consequences and we aim to work towards reducing its prevalence within our communities and immediate environs,” she stressed.

Musa, however, promised to provide the necessary support for victims of sexual exploitation who speak up.

“I pledge to support any victim who reports any form of sexual exploitation, or any attempt to be initiated into the use of illicit substances within our domain,” she said.

“We call upon the appropriate authorities to investigate and address same when any of these menaces is reported. Indeed, perpetrators ought to be held accountable.”