THE NAME SOTHAWACA

What SOTHAWACA Stands For:

Society to Heighten Awareness of Women and Children Abuse (SOTHAWACA) is a Non Governmental Organization with the United Nations ECOSOC Special Consultative Status was founded October 1999 and duly registered with the Corporate Affairs Corporation in May, 2013 to fight for and as well as to heighten awareness of the Rights of Women and Children who are the most vulnerable individuals in our society.

SOTHAWACA is a Regional Non-profit Organization whose works are centered on promotion of reproductive health, rights and general development for women, the girl-child, youths and the communities. The organization is run by the Initiator and a team of professionals and volunteers in various fields of Advocacy, Counseling, Capacity Building and Empowerment.

SOTHAWACA was established to respond primarily to issues on Women/ Girl-Child victims of violence, abuse and trafficking. Our concentration has been in areas of creating/heightening awareness, sensitization, advocacy, interventions, counseling and empowerment. We go the extra mile forming strong collaboration with government parastatals and likeminded organizations to have workshops, seminars, training for survivors and those working in such areas as interventions.

In addition to this, the need to set up and provide services that would deal with issues of counseling, relocation, reintegration and support programs to meet the psychological needs of survivors and the general wellbeing for all. It is our desire at SOTHAWACA to ensure that we meet the needs that are not already been addressed by other organizations existing services. We have provision for individual and group counseling services for victims and survivors of violence.

We envision a world where the feminine gender enjoy their human rights and live with dignity, equality, and justice. We have tried to build a society where violence and discrimination against women and girls unacceptable. Part of our goal is to prevent violence against women by transforming the norms and cultures that enable it. We carry this out by building a critical mass of change agents within the community where we work. We use arts, media, technology, and leadership training to drive culture change for human rights in order to make gender-based violence unacceptable.

Also, we build a community with bold collective action that will deliver irreversible impact on the issue of our time. We employ traditional media to disrupt the norms that encourages gender-based violence in the realm of our community life. We believe in action for dignity, equality and justice of all. We support workplace wellness programs on communicable and non-communicable diseases through corporate social responsibility.

We mobilize communities (youths inclusive) to seek justice for Gender-Based Violence and also promote access to sexual and reproductive health education and services through sports. We promote community ownership for all our projects.

Society To Heighten Awareness of Women And Children Abuse (SOTHAWACA) is an Advisory, Counseling and Advocacy group that focuses on Child Sexual Abuse and Domestic Violence of persons especially as it relates to gender. We are a community of men and women dedicated to breaking the cycle of abuse and neglect as well as saving and strengthening children and the family in general.

Who are We?
Basically, we are supporters and volunteers who encompass a diverse range of religious beliefs and perspectives. We render services to children and families who fall under these categories. We welcome and encourage anyone who want to make life better for all those who fall within our scope. victims / survivors to tell their stories without scaring them.

SOTHAWACA acts as a voice to create awareness by STANDING UP and SPEAKING OUT against violence in our midst especially as it affects women and children. Legislative and Policy Advocacy is of paramount importance to us.
In summary we,

• Cater for sexually abused children and victims of domestic violence.


• Heighten awareness on issues centered about Child Abuse with emphasis on Sexual Abuse of Children and Domestic Violence in Homes.


• Empower women especially in the grassroots.


• Create awareness on issues relating to safety of destitute, widows, women,Orphans and children.


• Encourage commitment for change in social development, policies and legislation as it relates to abuse.


• Provide support for survivals of rape, domestic violence and abusive relationships.


• Advocate against Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting


• Discourage bullying, harassment and sexual molestation of children and teenagers.


• Heighten awareness and educate about HIV/AIDS for everyone.


• Enlighten the populace on Women’s Reproductive Rights.


• Build support for common sense changes in public education.


• Facilitate as well as participate in the enactment of legislation and policies to cater to Women’s Rights including violence against women, Child Abuse, Sexual Offences, Human Trafficking, Women Empowerment and Women’s Reproductive Rights

Core Values

• Education


• Women Empowerment


• Sustainability and Development


• Women and Children Rights especially the Girl Child.


• Gender Equality and Equity


• Women in Peace and Security

Memberships

• Conference of Non Governmental Organizations (CONGOS)


• Civil Society for HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (CISHAN)


• African Network for the Prevention and Protection against Child Abuse and Neglect (ANPPCAN) (Nigeria Chapter);


• International Society for the Prevention against Child Abuse and Neglect (ISPCAN);


• Women Global Network for Reproductive Rights (WGNRR)


• National Council of Child Rights Advocates of Nigeria (NACCRAN)


• CIVICUS


• World Pulse


• Women in Peace Building Network (WIPNET)


• West African Civil Society Organizations Forum (WACSOF)


• African Women Development Network (FEMNET)


• Network of Civil Society Organizations against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labour (NACTAL).


• Safe World for Women


• United Nations Women


• The Girl Generation Network


• YALI

Issues We Work On:

• Gender Based Violence


• Health Programs


• Security, Peace Building/Management


• Human Rights/Gender Justice Programs


• Mentoring


• Socio-Economic Empowerment


• Negotiations and Mediation in conflict situation.

We at SOTHAWACA would like to be affiliated and partner with your Foundation or with anyone who shares in our vision and would join in championing our noble cause to ensure that appropriate measures and interventions are provided toSTOP CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE and VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN.
We say ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!!!

Address
# 31 Giwa-Amu Street,
Off Airport Road,
Benin City,
Edo State,
Nigeria.
Telephone:
+ 234 - 807 - 440 - 3088
+ 234 - 809 - 172 - 8363
+ 234 - 902 - 389 - 1168
Email Address:
sothawaca@gmail.com & sothawacabenin@yahoo.com
Visit us @:
https://web.facebook.com/groups/sothawacabenin/
https://web.facebook.com/sothawaca
http://www.sothawaca.org/
http://www.sothawaca.blogspot.com/
http://www.nayd.org/sothawaca.htm
Tweeter:
@SothawacaCity

Skype Name:Sothawaca Benin-City