Famous actress and Philanthropist Tonto Dikeh has urged society to stop enabling domestic violence by stigmatizing the Victims.
Speaking at the uncommon personality awards and lecture 2021,an award ceremony organized by Orcapella Digital,the actress, herself a survivor of domestic violence shared how she had turned her pain into lots of people’s joy and hope.
After receiving an award presented to her NGO, King Tonto Dikeh foundation for being the outstanding philanthrophic group 2021, she urged society to help stem the tide of domestic violence.
“The society has to normalize not shaming victims that will only give room for the victims to be ashamed and not come out,and when you do not come out, you are aiding the perpetrators to do more to someone else”.
“Society should please listen to victims without criticizing, let them speak,let them heal without any form of shaming, without any form of societal stigmatization”.
Addressing victims of domestic violence, shrugged them to speak up.
” There are so many women who were in my position who didn’t even realize that they were going through domestic violence because they are strong women, because you think you fight back, because you think that you talk back, you are still in pain!”
Responding to the question of how she has stayed strong.g inspire of the criticisms, she says
“I will never conform to what the society thinks I should be,Never, I am too strong for that!”
Earlier the representative of United Nations Women,Ms Patience Ekeoba called for strong legislation and policy framework as well as domestication of the Violence against persons ACG and the child rights act in states where it was yet to be done.
The concerned Naija priority Initiative Comrade Leo Ebute said the essence of the awards is to ho our individuals and organizations who are doing inspirational work for sustainable development in Nigeria.
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