WARIF Partners with MAC Viva Glam to Raise Awareness for GBV During the COVID-19 Pandemic
With an alarming increase in the rate of rape, sexual and domestic violence cases due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Women at Risk International Organization (WARIF); a non-profit that supports survivors of rape and sexual violence has been on the frontlines providing care to these survivors.
Following the lockdown issued by the Federal and State Governments; a spike in the cases of rape and sexual violence were occurring as organizations, individuals and families became mandated to implement social distancing and self-isolation, leaving many survivors quarantined with their abusers for extended periods of time.
WARIF, in response to this issue, found to be even more prevalent in the rural areas in Nigeria, launched the Covid-19 Response in Rural Communities. The initiative aims to address these issues of gender-based violence in the more rural areas and enlighten citizens on the dangers of sexual violence, enquire about the well-being of girls and women in the communities possibly trapped at home with their abusers, with door to door visits, as well as provide information on the free and available services offered by WARIF with immediate medical care, forensic examinations, psycho-social counselling, legal aid and access to shelters, at the WARIF Rape Crisis Centre.
In support of this impactful initiative, MAC Cosmetics, with its Viva Glam campaign has partnered with WARIF through a grant to implement the initiative. The long-standing campaign has dedicated $10 million USD towards 250 organizations all over the world that are on the front lines helping people at higher risk during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Founder of WARIF, Dr Kemi DaSilva-Ibru reassures the public that WARIF is positioning itself to provide the necessary assistance to survivors especially in rural areas as the novel COVID-19 virus continues to spread across communities in the country. She states “We anticipated an increase in the cases of violence against women and children by abusers during this shadow pandemic and so we felt it was necessary to create awareness to these issues as well provide the necessary assistance in tackling the problem, especially in the rural areas in Nigeria, where services are not readily available. We are thankful to the MAC Viva Glam Campaign for their support and will continue to do all that we can to ensure that women and girls can live in a society free from rape and sexual violence”.
For more information, please call the 24-hour Confidential Hotline on +234 809 2100009; if help is needed.
