COVID-19 AND GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE

GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE AND COVID 19 PANDEMIC

For how long do we face such challenges? Why do women have to go through violence, abuse and all that? These are questions that kept running through my mind every single day.
I am so devastated and weak, my heart broken wishing I could find an everlasting solution to Gender-Based Violence.

Standing at the balcony of my house, i sighted a pregnant woman with bruises and deep injuries all over her body, laying on the floor of her compound  bleeding profusely possibly due to miscarriage. She was unconscious and couldn't move her body, i rushed to the house and on getting closer to her I thought she was dead. I took another step closer to confirm my fears, suddenly I noticed her finger moved and I realized she was still alive.

I called out for help but no one answered because of the lock down and stay at home policy by the government. I was confused and terrified,  never seen situation like that. I stood there quiet with tears in my eyes thinking of how to save the life of this woman when I heard a voice screaming at the top of his voice saying ️"Let her die she has no value to the world, she is very stubborn and indiscipline No one will save her today, Everyone is on lockdown even her family can not come here to save her and no one to witness what I did to her". 
I was silent for a moment trembling and wondering who could that be, I picked up the courage to turn around and I saw a Man in his early 40s with 3 lovely children crying profusely saying "Daddy please don't let our mummy to die" and that was when I realized that he was actually her husband. My heart bleeds for what is going to be the fate of the children.

I was shocked and terrified that a man could do this to the women who sacrificed her family bond to come and build a home with him.

This is the story that alot of women go through, most especially in the midst of Covid-19 pandemic. If actions are not taken seriously on the issue of violence against women in this period of Covid 19 Pandemic then we are left with two options; either the women die from Corona Virus or die from domestic abuse.

Let's all come together to save women, girls and children from Abuse.

Voice of the Girl Child and Vulnerable People Foundation (VGCVPF) will not relent in their effort to see an end to all forms of Gender-Based Violence in Nigeria and beyond.

Thank you and God Bless,
Aisha M. Bello