SIDEC, UNIZIK Community Champion Safe Spaces for Gender-based Violence Survivors

By Praise Chinecherem

Executive Director of the Social and Integral Development Centre (SIDEC), Ugochi Ehiahuruike, says response to any distressed Gender-Based Violence, GBV survivors determines whether they will heal or hurt the more.

Ehiahuruike who was speaking at an event themed “Say No to Gender-Based Violence,” insisted that participants mainly students are at the heart of the campaign to end gender-based violence at the institution.

She maintained that supporting survivors begins with respect, silence, and listening emphasizing that many of them take their greatest risk when they choose to confide in someone.

“This is because the response they receive can either begin their healing or deepen their hurt.

“This training is to equip students with basic but life-saving knowledge on how to respond when someone discloses an experience of gender-based violence (GBV).

She described GBV as any harmful act done against a person’s will simply because of their gender—acts that inflict physical, sexual, or emotional harm, including threats, coercion, and deprivation of freedom.

According to her, every action taken when supporting a survivor must be rooted in respect—respect for their choices, dignity, wishes, and safety.

Survivors, she stressed, have the absolute right to choose whom they tell their story. “Therefore, confidentiality is non-negotiable.

“No one has the right to share a survivor’s story without consent,” she said, adding that equal, fair treatment is essential to ensuring survivors are not retraumatized.

Ehiahuruike further highlighted the importance of the survivor-centered approach, which prioritizes what the survivor wants—not assumptions or personal opinions.

“Even where formal GBV structures or referral pathways are absent, she said, communities still have local services that can provide meaningful support.

Once a survivor is safe and out of immediate danger, Ehiahuruike urged participants to do one critical thing: listen.

“Stay calm. Let them share as much or as little as they want. Your role is not to investigate or counsel,” she said.

“Instead, supporters should simply offer information on available services and allow the survivor to decide. “The decision must always be theirs,” she added.

Ehiahuruike also cautioned against giving advice or sharing personal opinions. When survivors ask, she encouraged supporters to redirect them gently: “Help them make their own decisions.”

Ending conversations compassionately, avoiding questions about the incident, and never reaching out directly afterward were highlighted as key ethical steps.

In his welcome address, Comrade Excel Solomon, President of the Onwa Student Welfare Initiative, described the gathering as a movement for healing and empowerment.

“This is a space where we educate, heal, support, and empower. I sincerely thank our partners, our speakers, volunteers, and every individual present.

“Your presence today is a seed of hope, and I’m confident this gathering will spark real change. We stand united in one voice to confront an evil that has crippled lives silently for too long.

“Gender-based violence is not just a women’s issue—it’s a human issue. And it is our duty, as conscious students, to speak up, to act, and to protect the light of those around us.
“GBV is not just a women’s issue, it’s a human issue,” he said. “We stand united to confront an evil that has crippled too many lives. Let us listen. Let us learn. Let us act.”

Professor Uche Nwogwugwu, Director of the Institute of Social Policy at UNIZIK, challenged young people to uphold dignity in their personal lives.

He warned against cohabitation among students, saying it exposes them to experiences they are not yet mentally or emotionally prepared for.

“Carry yourself with honour,” he urged. “Your ambition is in your hands. Do not follow the crowd.”

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Anambra State Ministry of Women Affairs called for stronger participation of students in combating GBV.

She noted that many incidents occur within university environments and often go unreported because of fear and silence.

“The government cannot fight this alone,” she said. “It is time to break the silence and encourage survivors to speak out. Collective action is the only way forward.”

The event reinforced a clear and urgent message: ending gender-based violence requires informed, compassionate individuals who know how to respond when it matters most.

With leaders like SIDEC and committed student advocates, UNIZIK is taking meaningful steps toward creating safer spaces for all.