Strengthening sexual abuse victims through artistic expressions

To provide better care and succour for sexual abuse victims, Mirabel Centre last week held Art and Fashion show to raise fund for the centre in its bid to better serve rape victims. On display were art works and fashion items like dresses, jewelleries donated to the centre by friends and associates who believe in the cause of the foundation. Besides the art works, the outing was enriched by artistic presentations of poetry, music and drama.

Artistes who added colour to the night with their performances were Gbenga Osowe, Bez, Oba and Cobham. There was also a-ten minutes short presentation by Helen Isibor-Epega.

Speaking on why her centre is so passionate about protecting girls, the founder Mirabel Centre, Mrs. Itoro Eze-Anaba, said the aim of the event is to use art and fashion as a catalyst to raise awareness and seek support for the Mirabel Centre in the realisation of its goal of positively touching the lives of many more survivors of sexual abuse.

She called on public spirited individuals and organisations to support Mirabel Centre to continue with the good work of protecting children because the situation had reached a stage that girls are no longer safe in their homes since fathers and uncles rape them.

“Rape is not a girls’ or women’s issue, it is a community issue because boys are also being raped daily. The implication is that if we do not end it, the abused may end up as an abuser and a time will come when the society will be filled with abusers,” Eze-Anaba said.

Former Presidential Adviser, National Assembly, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa and Manager, Delis Delicatessen, Malaika Najem commended the centre for its good works, saying it was the reason they came around to support the Centre in order for it to continue its good works. They called on well-meaning Nigerians, corporate organisations and governments to support the centre. They however recommended that any man caught raping a minor should have his organ cut off for damaging a child for the rest of her life.

Ita-Giwa maintained that such capital penalty is needed because the child involved has been killed, as a result of the rape, while Najem stated that there should be no pity for adults who raped minors and should be punished accordingly.

“I am very emotional about this, I cannot think of a 20-year old using his organ to penetrate a baby. So whoever does that should never have the use of that organ again. I am a Bakassi woman, I may get to the extreme on issues,” she said.

Ita-Giwa commended the centre for its works of protecting the underprivileged, urging them not to relent, saying, “they should continue what they are doing, I really appreciate it and will give the necessary support I can.”Najem said that she supported the fundraising because the Centre is into a cause that is important.