Society To Halt Women And Children Abuse

01/07/2025

Addictive Behavior: A Silent Struggle That Demands Compassion and Courage

Addictive behavior is one of the most misunderstood battles a person can face. It often starts subtly—a coping mechanism, a way to numb the pain, escape reality, or feel some fleeting sense of control or pleasure. But over time, it spirals. What began as a choice morphs into a prison, affecting not just the individual but their loved ones, careers, health, and sense of self.

Addiction wears many faces. It could be substance abuse—alcohol, drugs, prescription pills—or behavioral addictions like gambling, social media, po*******hy, food, shopping, or even toxic relationships. Whatever form it takes, one thing remains true: addiction hijacks the brain, silences reason, and holds people hostage in a cycle of craving and regret.

But behind every addictive behavior is a person. A soul often grappling with trauma, loneliness, anxiety, or depression. Labeling or shaming only deepens the wound. What is needed is understanding, support, and structured help—therapy, community, spiritual grounding, and in many cases, medical intervention.

Recovery is possible, but it’s not linear. It requires bravery—the kind that fights every day, sometimes every hour, to choose healing over habit. Let us become a society that leans in with compassion, not condemnation. Let us become safe spaces for those trying to break free. Because addictive behavior is not a moral failure—it’s a human struggle. And every human struggling deserves a path back to wholeness.

01/07/2025

Almost on a regular basis, I hear people especially women say "He's a narcissist" when issues of domestic violence are being reported. Many erroneously believe that it is only men who are narcissists. One begins to wonder whether narcissistic women exist?

Narcissistic women absolutely exist. It’s a common misconception that narcissism is mainly a male trait. While studies sometimes show slightly higher rates among men, narcissism is a personality pattern found in both genders.

A narcissistic woman, like her male counterpart, tends to have an inflated sense of self-importance, a need for excessive admiration, and a lack of empathy for others. She manipulative towards people to get what she wants, play the victim to gain sympathy, or use charm and appearance as tools of control.

Most importantly, narcissism in women tends to take a different format in that it may be more covert or socially “acceptable,” making it harder to recognize. For example, women who are narcissist focus on status through relationships or play emotional games rather than showing overt grandiosity.

It is of great importance to note that recognizing that both men and women can be narcissists helps us understand unhealthy dynamics in all kinds of relationships. It encourages us to look beyond stereotypes and respond to toxic behavior regardless of who displays it.

23/06/2025

SOTHAWACA firmly believes that empowering women and achieving gender equality are the cornerstones of sustainable development. As an organization dedicated to raising awareness around abuse against women and children in Nigeria, we emphasize that without addressing these core issues, broader societal progress would definitely always remain limited. Our advocacy underscores the connection between women’s rights and community well-being .

Central to our agenda is digital inclusion, SOTHAWACA always highlights how access to technology tends to support women in seeking help, reporting abuse, and participating economically. From time to time, we argue that closing the digital gap fosters resilience and autonomy, particularly in marginalized rural communities . By equipping women with digital skills, we pave the way for greater participation in education, business activities, and civic discourse.

Moreover, SOTHAWACA always tackles gender‑based violence through culturally sensitive digital platforms and awareness campaigns. These initiatives aim to create safe channels for survivors and to counteract emerging threats like cyber‑harassment. As an organization, we also pursue policy change by calling for stronger cyber laws and fair protocols that protect women both online and offline .

Our broader development philosophy embraces an integrated empowerment model that encompasses education, economic opportunity, legal reform, and community engagement. A 2015 framework presented by SOTHAWACA emphasized holistic growth, advocating for leadership roles, access to credit, and partnerships across local and global networks .

In conclusion, SOTHAWACA views the empowerment of women not as an isolated goal, but as a prerequisite for sustainable societal transformation. By combining digital inclusion, advocacy, counseling, and policy engagement, we aim to dismantle systemic barriers and ensure women and girls can live free from violence, fully participate in all spheres of life, and contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s development.

19/06/2025

A Focus Group Discussion (FGD) was held to examine how to make the reporting and handling of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) stronger and more effective in Edo State. Different groups, including government agencies, NGOs, SARCs, community leaders, and teachers, came together to look closely at specific questions and share their ideas on how to improve the system.
1. Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs):
Participants from MDAs were asked what laws or policies currently guide the reporting and response to GBV in Edo State and how well these policies work. They also discussed how government departments work together on GBV cases. The group looked at ways to improve teamwork between agencies to make sure cases are properly managed and survivors receive timely help.
2. SARCs and NGOs:
The second group, made up of Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) and NGOs, talked about the challenges they face when receiving, recording, and responding to GBV cases. They shared the types of help they give to survivors, including counseling, medical care, and legal aid. They also discussed the barriers survivors face in reporting abuse—such as fear, shame, or lack of trust—and suggested ways to reduce these challenges. The group also gave ideas on how they could work more closely with communities to improve local reporting and referral systems.
3. Community Leaders:
This group focused on cultural and social beliefs in the community thataffect whether survivors come forward to report abuse. Some community norms can make it hard for survivors to speak up. The leaders also talked about how traditional and religious figures can play a key role in building trust in the formal reporting systems. Their support can help more survivors feel safe to report what happened.
4. Teachers and the School System:
Teachers were asked what reporting channels exist in schools and who is responsible for handling sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) cases. They discussed the roles of volunteer or community/PTA teachers in schools, how these teachers can be held responsible for their actions, and how they can be trained to handle GBV issues properly. Teachers also talked about how schools currently work with other groups and organizations to tackle GBV and how these partnerships can be improved.

19/06/2025

SARCs and NGOs:
The second group made up of Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) and NGOs, talked about the challenges we face when receiving, recording, and responding to GBV cases. We shared the types of help we give to survivors, including counseling, medical care, and legal aid. We also discussed the barriers survivors face in reporting abuse such as fear, shame, or lack of trust and suggested ways to reduce these challenges. Our group also gave ideas on how we could work more closely with communities to improve local reporting and referral systems.

13/06/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1JJsjcgQVu/

08/06/2025

Gush! For Goodness’ Sake… 😔

For the past 3 hours, I’ve been on my bed, listening helplessly as a young couple verbally abused each other. Loud, toxic, painful words flying nonstop.

They have a 2-year-old son… and I can’t help but wonder: Where is he in all this? What is he hearing? What is he learning?

This isn’t just a domestic squabble. It’s emotional warfare, and sadly, a child is caught in the middle. 💔

This is lunacy of the highest order. It’s heartbreaking. And dangerous.

I pray they don’t one day destroy each other and that someone, somehow, intervenes before the damage becomes irreversible.

🚨 Verbal abuse is violence.
🚸 Children should never grow up thinking this is normal.

01/06/2025

📚 Update from SOTHAWACA

Yours Sincerely began two important book projects that focused on advancing knowledge and advocacy around Sickle Cell and Gender-Based Violence. These books were meant to be powerful tools for education, awareness, and community empowerment.

Due to unavoidable circumstances, unexpected challenges, and shifting priorities, both projects have remain unfinished. However, the valuable research and drafts created continue to guide and inspire our ongoing work.

As an advocate, I stay committed to the mission and hopes to revive and complete these projects in the very near future, contributing to justice, healing, and protection for women and children everywhere.

I still look forward to completing at least one of the said books by September 2025

31/05/2025

With Basudha Modak – I just got recognized as one of their top fans! 🎉

26/05/2025

As I hurriedly dashed between my office and the security department at the Vivian Centre today, my eyes caught a glimpse of a powerful topic on TV: Gender, Power, and Speaking Out.

It stopped me in my tracks. In many societies, power is deeply gendered tilted to favour dominant voices while muting others, especially women and marginalized groups.

Speaking out becomes a radical, courageous act. It confronts injustice and challenges the status quo but often comes with backlash, stigma, or isolation.

Still, these brave voices are the cracks through which oppressive systems begin to fall apart.

The price may be high, but the cost of silence is far greater.

True empowerment lies in creating safe spaces for everyone to speak, be heard, and lead change. Speaking out shouldn’t be a risk—it should be a right.

26/05/2025