Introduction
HACEY Health Initiative is a development organization focused on improving the health and productivity of the vulnerable and underserved population in Africa. Over the last 12 years, we have worked with communities, government institutions, private sector companies, civil society groups and the media to design and implement sustainable interventions aimed at creating a lasting impact for our beneficiaries.
In the past, HACEY Health Initiative has implemented different projects and programs aimed at preventing and eradicating sexual and gender-based violence. Among these projects are MySalvus – a web-based, interactive sexual violence reporting platform where cases of sexual violence can be reported anonymously and survivors can access available support services such as counselling, legal, police and medical services; The EndFGM Initiative – a project on ending Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) targeted 16 communities across 3 States in Southern and Northern Nigeria through community sensitization and capacity building of young advocates; and Media Against Sexual Violence project – with the goal of preventing sexual violence through transmedia, supporting survivors of sexual violence and changing the narrative from rape culture to consent culture.
Why The Project
Sexual and gender-based violence has, over the years, remained of public health importance and a human right problem which has resulted into high rates of morbidity, mortality, gynaecological problems, sexually transmitted infections, depression, post-traumatic stress disorders and suicide. FGM/C is practised in about thirty (30) countries globally, with Nigeria contributing about 10% of the global burden affecting over 20 million women and girls of reproductive age in Nigeria. Various health consequences result from FGM/C and this ranges from bacterial and viral infections, complications during childbirth and in some cases neonatal mortality, as well as psychological problems. Globally, there are several policies and laws that protect the rights of women and girls, and likewise in Nigeria, policies and laws like the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act that sets to protect women and girls from violence have been enacted. Unfortunately, these policies and laws have not been domesticated, implemented and are not enforced in many States in Nigeria and this contributes to the continued practice of FGM and other forms of violence. Furthermore, low level of public awareness on FGM/C policies and laws, lack of coordinating agencies for FGM/C, poor reporting of FGM/C cases, and low capacity of critical stakeholders to advocate for policy implementation and enforcement all contributes to the continued practice of FGM/C in Nigeria.
Why the Consultation?
HACEY Health Initiative, with funding from the United Nations Trust Fund for Ending Violence against Women (UN Trust Fund), is implementing the Stop Cut Project to reduce the incidence of Female Genital Mutilation through the implementation and enforcement of FGM/C policies and laws in Ekiti, Osun, and Oyo States in Southwest Nigeria. One of the objectives of this project is to strengthen the capacities of critical stakeholders such as Civil Society Organizations (CSOs)/Nongovernmental Organizations (NGOs), media, religious and traditions leaders, government ministries and agencies as well as community influencers and survivors to advocate and engage policy makers on effective implementation and enforcement of laws, ensure efficient reporting system of FGM/C cases, and also promote the abandonment of the practice. Therefore, this consultation becomes necessary to gather information on individuals and CSOs/NGOs working on FGM/C within the project States to ensure successful implementation of the project.
What happens to the Result?
At the end of the consultation, the information gathered will be used to engage individuals, CSOs and NGOs as secondary beneficiaries of the project. The created database will also contribute to the design of the strategy for the implementation of the project in the different states and build a network of advocates working on FGM/C to synergize their effort towards ending FGM/C.