INTRODUCTION

The ROTDOW (Restoration of the Dignity of Womanhood) Children Care and Support Community comprises of over 200 Stakeholders (NGOs, Security Officials, Media personnel, Doctors, Lawyers, Trained Counsellors’ and other Children Experts) across Nigeria, handling Children Related Issues. The theme of the Virtual Town Hall Meeting was “Identifying Strategies to Combat the Prevailing Children Sexual Abuse and Rape Menace. The Town Hall Meeting was aimed at:

1. Identifying factors encouraging the spike in Sexual abuse and Rape of children in Nigeria.
2. Coming up with strategies to reduce sexual abuse and rape of children
3. Collating Names and Contacts of Bodies treating sexual abuse issue (security agents, professional bodies, institutions and individuals)
4. Setting up a 6 man committee for rehabilitation of children victims of sexual abuse and rape in order to counsel, help and assist in the healing process of the children.

Participants at the Online Town Hall Meeting included NGOs handling Children Related Issues, Security Officials from Nigeria Civil Defence Corps, and Media Personnel across Nigeria, Doctors, Lawyers and other Children Experts.

In the course of the deliberation, the participants noted the following:

1. The need for proper definition and understanding of rape. It was discovered that the crime of rape has been subsumed under that of sexual assault, which encompasses acts fall short of intercourse. It was agreed that rape is “an act of sexual intercourse with an individual without his or her consent, through force or the threat of force”. Although rape has been understood to be caused by unbridled sexual desire, it was noted that is a pathological assertion of power over a victim.

2. The following are the identified factors within Nigeria society that are responsible for the rise in rape and sexual abuse of children. The most dominant factor during the deliberation was rape culture. It was noted that our environment encourages sexual violence due to the persistent gender inequality and the society attitude towards gender and sexuality. Among other factors recognized as fuelling the rise in rape and sexual abuse are non-persecution of rape and sexual abuse perpetrators, no adequate evidence as sexual abuse is based on verbal evidence, influence of western culture, COVID-19 pandemic, male dominance and Power and rituals.

3. It was noted the sexual abuse and rape of children have been on the increase, but were amplified as a result of the availability of social media, which encourages the spread of information and news in great volume.

4. In a bid to combat this menace in Nigeria society, the participants came up with the following resolutions:
   • Enforcement of rape and sexual abuse register in every State in Nigeria
   • TV/Radio Campaigns, Poster Campaigns and Social Media Campaigns to inform rapist and the society of rape and sexual abuse consequences.
   • Awareness and sensitization in primary, secondary and tertiary schools to speak up against rape.
   • Hospitals and laboratories should be well equipped for forensics and detailing facts that can convict perpetrators of rape and sexual abuse
   • The House of Assembly of States should enforce moderation in dressing. As indecent dressing was noted as an invitation to rape or sexual abuse.
   • Demystifying male dominance culture and decongesting media space of sex and its innuendoes- music videos and Nollywood.
   • The Video and Music Censor Boards should work against objectifying women (using women for promotional videos)
   • Hawking for minors should be banned.
   • Parents should be encouraged to instil right culture into their children

5. Based on the survey conducted to understand the attitudes of Nigerians towards sexual abuse and rape (a survey conducted in preparation of the Town Hall Meeting), 100% of respondents believed that they will appreciate if they know of bodies or Institutions handling sexual abuse or rape issues. The following bodies and Institutions were collated:
   • Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT) an organization under Lagos State Government. This scheme can also be replicated by other states.
   • Mirabel Centre
   • The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons
   • National Union of Journalist
   • Human Rights Activists (Women Unit)
   • Citizen’s Gavel (Provides free Legal service for survivors of sexual and Gender-based violence across Nigeria
   • The Anti-human trafficking Unit of NSCDC across the states.
   • Nigeria Women Journalists (NAWOJ)
   • The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA)

6. Finally, in accordance with the survey conducted, where 77.8 of the respondents believe that children victims of rape and sexual abuse do not receive adequate assistance, the participants came up with a 6-man committee who will work assiduously in getting in touch with children victims of Rape and Sexual abuse to counsel, help and assist in the healing process of rape. The following people were nominated/suggested:
   • Olaronke Olajide
   • Mrs Olubola Adeleye
   • Comrade Kolawole
   • Mrs Uche Daodu⁩
   • Mrs Yemi Faboyo-Agbede
   • Mr Emmanuel Agunloye

CONCLUSION
The participants at the Virtual Town Hall Meeting agreed to work hand in hand to tackle the issue of sexual abuse and rape of children in Nigeria. ROTDOW (Restoration of the Dignity of Womanhood) Children Care and Support Community is committed to securing the future of the Nigerian children, a community coordinated by Mrs Olabisi Omolona.