The Defence and Police Officers’ Association (DEPOWA) has advocated stakeholders’ support to address the menace of sexual abuse in barracks communities.
DEPOWA President Mrs Oghogho Musa made the call in Abuja at a one-day seminar with the theme, “Preventing Sexual Exploitation and Abuse,” organised to commemorate her one year in office.
Mrs Musa said the choice of hosting the barracks teens and youths was deliberate, adding that the topics for the seminar were carefully chosen to enlighten the community.
“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. 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 recognise the severity of the consequences and we aim to work towards reducing its prevalence within our communities and immediate environs. We also thought it necessary sensitise the youth on the menace of drug abuse and how to avoid it so they can have a promising future.
“In all of these, it is important to know who you are, know what you want to achieve in life and develop some personal values that would guide you into achieving your goals,” Mrs. Musa said.
She urged the youths to adopt the lessons from the sessions into their daily living and eventually attain the future they desire.
The DEPOWA president therefore, pledged her unwavering support to any victim who reports any form of sexual exploitation, or any attempt to be initiated into the use of illicit substances within the association’s domain.
“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,” she said.
Earlier, the Chairman planning committee of the seminar, Mrs Isabella Okosun said the prevalence of sexual abuse necessitated the sensitisation programme.
Okosun noted that youths were more vulnerable to sexual and drug abuse, hence the need to equip them with the necessary knowledge.
One of the resource persons, Dr Chika Anozie, said that alcohol, illicit drugs and substances abuse have their negative impact on young people.
Anozie, who delivered a paper titled, “the Risk of Teenage Drug Abuse: Prevention and Awareness”, urged youths to take charge of their environment, circle of friends and peer pressure.
According to her, there have been 20 per cent increase in drug use in the past 10 years and that Africa will experience the largest growth in absolute numbers of drug users while four of 10 drug users in Africa will be youths by 2030.
On her part, Dr Olajumoke Jenyo, who presented a paper title, “Sexual Exploitation and Abuse: Prevention and Response,” said that two out of every 10 male child had been sexually abused.
She said that more of sensitisation was required to address the menace in the society, saying that more girls have also been victims of such abuse without being reported.