The Samuel Ioron Foundation (SIF) has launched Whistleblower Nigeria: Reporting Sexual Violence in Displacement Settings, an initiative designed to help survivors in Benue State report sexual violence safely and access essential support services.
Speaking at the launch, the Foundation’s Executive and Project Director, Ngunan Ioron Aloho, said the initiative would strengthen community reporting channels and improve coordination among key service providers, including healthcare facilities, legal aid organisations, the police and social welfare agencies.
‘The aim is to ensure that when someone reports abuse, they can get practical help, with their safety and confidentiality protected,’ Aloho said.
She explained that knowing where to report abuse was only one part of the challenge facing survivors, adding that access to medical care, counselling, legal assistance and protection after a report was equally important.
According to her, the Foundation would work directly with communities and service providers to strengthen referral systems and support survivors through the process while respecting their choices and protecting their confidentiality.
The initiative follows SIF’s participation in Nigeria’s National Preparatory Session on Ending Violence Against Children, held ahead of the Global Ministerial Conference in Manila, Philippines.
At the session, the Foundation shared experiences from communities in Benue to contribute to discussions on translating national child protection commitments into accessible and timely support for children and families.
The Foundation noted that children living in displacement camps and host communities could face violence in different settings, including homes, communities and temporary settlements.
It added that children’s experiences and concerns needed to be reflected in policy discussions and decisions concerning their protection and welfare.
‘Policies can promise protection, but for children living in displaced or humanitarian contexts, the real question is often much simpler: Who can I tell when something happens to me, and will anyone actually help?’ Aloho said.
She said the Whistleblower Nigeria initiative seeks to address this concern by helping community members recognise and safely report sexual violence, connecting survivors with appropriate support services and following up on referrals.
Aloho added that the Foundation’s work in Benue had provided insights into the challenges children and families faced when seeking assistance, as well as areas where reporting channels and support services required improvement.
She called for sustained funding, stronger coordination among service providers and the meaningful involvement of children, survivors and communities in decisions affecting their safety and welfare.
According to her, the initiative’s success would ultimately depend on whether people seeking help could access appropriate support safely and promptly.
The Foundation is inviting companies, civil society organisations and service providers to partner with it on the initiative.
Potential partners can contribute funding, technology, professional expertise and referral services to strengthen safe reporting channels and improve survivors’ access to healthcare, protection and legal assistance across Benue State.