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Young ladies have been advised not to encourage verbal sexual abuse because it could lead to physical sexual abuse.
According to Kate Ibeanusi, programme officer with Project Alert, before rape or sexual violence occurs, there might have been some advances played by the man verbally, and if not cautioned, it could lead to a physical abuse.
Mrs. Ibeanusi gave this warning, on Thursday, at a one-day sensitisation workshop on ‘Youth and Sexual Violence in Tertiary Institutions' at Yaba College of Technology.
The workshop which was organised by Project Alert, a non-governmental organisation dedicated to raising sensitisation on violence against women, had the support of the authorities of the institution.
While speaking on the forms of sexual violence, Mrs. Ibeanusi told the students, especially the females to resist any form of verbal sexual advances or explicit comments if they are not interested in the man else they could be sending wrong messages of consent.
"Sexual violence is any sexual act that is forced against someone else's will," said Mrs Ibeanusi.
"It can be verbal, physical and psychological. When you accept it, you cannot say it is violence. Verbal abuse can lead to physical abuse but can only progress if one accepts it. If you don't want it, don't accept it," she added.
Zero tolerance
She also advised the ladies to desist from using or trying to use their bodies to gain academic points as this could lead to sexual abuse.
"Quite a number of young people today go to campus thinking that any way is a way. We should have zero tolerance to all forms of abuse," she stated.
In the same vein, Ojo Lucas, who represented the Dean of Student Affairs while giving his address at the workshop described sexual violence in tertiary institutions as a "two way thing." While using sexual abuse between students and lecturers as an example, Mr. Lucas said it is often instigated through provocative dressing by the females.
"There are many cases of violence in tertiary institutions," he said.
"Violence against women, violence against men, violence against the lecturers and the lecturers too do violate students. It is a two way thing. When you see them dressed provocatively, both men and women could instigate violence."
‘It has come to stay'
For Nkechi Akubuiro, deputy rector of the institution, sexual violence is a reality that has come to stay. Reports of various forms of violence, including sexual, reaches her desk on campus every week, she said.
"It is one aspect of human behaviour that we can no longer shove aside," said Mrs Akubuiro.
"We receive news of one type of violent act or another on a weekly basis and we have challenges on how to deal with it." ]
There were several talks given to the students and interactive sessions on how best to deal with sexual violence.
The students had an interesting time getting exposed to various forms of sexual violence and had their questions answered by experts in the field.
According to Mrs Ibeanusi, it was important to give the students tools on how to cope with it because even if they were not direct victims, they could be of help to a family member, friend, neighbour, or someone from the society.
She added that the focus on students of tertiary institutions was important in order to catch them young.
"We found out that a lot of these things happening in our society are out of ignorance," she said.
"They don't know the things they should do. In a bid to catch them young, we are taking this message to tertiary institutions. Let them hear and begin to take precautions."