Comrade Toyin Okanlawo is the Head of Rescue and Referral, Advocates for Children and Vulnerable Persons Network (ACVPN). He recently had a chat with JULIANA FRANCIS.
Tell Us About Yourself And Your Organization
I am Comrade OKANLAWON Toyin. A human rights activist and a Gender Based Violence advocate. I am the Head of rescue and referral of the organization.
My Organization is known as Advocates for Children and Vulnerable Persons’s Network (ACVPN) popularly known as Advocate.
As Head Of Rescue And Referral, What Are Your Challenges With Survivors, Relatives And The Police
My challenge with survivors is pleading for perpetrators sometimes because their religious leaders begged them or some people have an interest and asked them. There are also pleas for survivors to drop the case or sometimes we get threats from the perpetrators’ families or communities.
Survivors also get tired of the process and get discouraged due to financial incapability to pursue the case.
In addition, one of the challenges is the nonchalant attitudes of victims’ relatives that tactically withdraw from cases by not showing up in court till judgement is passed.
They had probably compromised or did not have the cash to pay for transportation to the court for the continuation of the case. Sometimes survivor’s family members withdraw because of stress or fatigue.
Sometimes, some prosecutors that are supposed to be the mouthpiece for government are the ones that will spearhead negotiations on the compromise table.
ACVPN has handled cases where Police prosecutors call incest and defilement of minors, a family matter.
Sometimes police will want to charge a defilement case as an indecent assault. This means that the perpetrator will get lesser punishment.
This is the wrong approach to getting justice for defilement victims and this is also how police truncate cases.
Can You Share One Of Your Most Challenging Cases And How ACVPN Finally Succeeded
One of the ACVPN Cases that was most challenging for me that I can easily recall is that of Alfa Salaudeen, a Muslim cleric who defiled a five-year-old inside a central mosque while the minor held the chair backrest.
He penetrated the child through the back.
The Alfa did not know that he was caught on camera.
The case was almost truncated because many Muslim faithful and members of his community didn’t believe his action, but thanks to the video evidence and the Directorate of Public Prosecution’s Advice.
If not that the case was keenly followed up by Head of Operations and Co-founder of ACVPN, Comrade Ebenezer Omejalile, the the case would have been messed up. The media also helped on the path to getting justice.
What Kind Of Special Cases DDoesACVPN Handles?
CVPN handles cases of gender-based violence, defilement, rape and other human rights abuse-related cases. We do not fight for only children and women, we also fight for men.
What Is The Slogan Of ACVPN And What Does It Mean?
The slogan of ACVPN is “Forgiveness Is a Sin.” It means anyone who abuses a child can not be forgiven.
How Can Nigerians Access ACVPN?
Nigerians can access ACVPN through our hotline 08136163465 or our social media handle.
