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Nonye Henrietta Umeh: I want every child to be aware of their basic human rights

By Esther Ijewere
15 April 2023   |   4:32 am
Before I fully understood the concept of child advocacy, I stood up for the rights of the children around me. I remember I never tolerated bullies in primary school. I was that child who would always say ‘Stop that.’ ‘Don’t do that again.’ ‘That’s wrong.’ ‘I will report you,’ etc. It didn’t matter if I was the one being bullied or not, I faced them confidently.

Nonye Henrietta Umeh

Nonye Henrietta Umeh is a multiple award-winning women’s leader, body safety expert, anti-GBV campaigner, author, Child and Women’s Rights Activist. She is the Project Manager of Powered Voices, a community-based organisation (CBO) focused on raising awareness on sexual gender-based violence(SGBV) and HIV-related abuses. The CBO educates, supports, and provides resources for the masses to create healthier families and strengthen communities. The University of Maiduguri graduate is the Founder of Body Safety Academy, a social impact organisation (SIO) focused on eradicating child abuse in our world through e-learning, media advocacy, and outreach campaigns. She is a licensed Physiotherapist and a Fellow of YALI RLC, a programme that equips young African leaders with proficiency and resources to facilitate change in their countries.
Henrietta has won several awards for her work, including the ‘Most 20 Outstanding Women Leaders’ in 2021 by YALI RLC Alumni (Nigerian Chapter) for her immense contribution towards ending gender inequality and advancing SRHRs in Nigeria. She also won the FIGHR Prize of Peace, a Legacy award in the category of Outstanding Giving to Women in 2022, and other notable awards.
In this interview, she shares her inspiring story with ESTHER IJEWERE, with focus on the importance of teaching children sex education early. 


Childhood Influence

Before I fully understood the concept of child advocacy, I stood up for the rights of the children around me. I remember I never tolerated bullies in primary school. I was that child who would always say ‘Stop that.’ ‘Don’t do that again.’ ‘That’s wrong.’ ‘I will report you,’ etc. It didn’t matter if I was the one being bullied or not, I faced them confidently.

Unfortunately, this wasn’t me with grown-ups. I was taught to respect my elders without a caveat. To me, that meant not speaking up when adults harmed or hurt me. That wouldn’t have been a big problem if adults conducted themselves appropriately and protected children.

My first experience with sexual abuse was at an open spaced wedding; a family friend whom I trusted violated me in public. Those minutes I sat on his thighs were the most uncomfortable minutes of my life. I didn’t know how to react; I knew he was wrong, I knew his hands shouldn’t be caressing my prepubescent breasts, but I didn’t know the right actions to take. I wanted to fight for myself, but I didn’t know how. So, I sat there frightened and confused. This was my first encounter with a sexual predator. That day, I learned most adults should not be trusted.

In secondary school, I became less vocal, and rarely spoke up or defended anyone and this continued till my University days. In my heart, I believed it was the job of activists to fight for the oppressed, not me. After my graduation, I became interested in developmental work, because of my late friend. I volunteered for some NGOs, attended many pieces of training and I gradually began to find my VOICE again.

It has been a long journey, but my experiences led me here. When I look back, I see how far I’ve come and those I have impacted along the way. I’m passionate about the safety of children, because I don’t want any child to feel the way I did; on the thighs of a supposedly trusted older family friend.

Powered Voices
At Powered Voices, I work extensively on projects that aim to create awareness of gender-based violence, HIV prevention, and treatment. I plan and ensure the execution of projects that reduce teenage pregnancies, prevent HIV, curb sexual abuse, encourage ARV uptake, and empower women and young girls. I have refined skills in case of management, safeguarding, community mobilisation, SRHRs, trauma counselling, risk management, etc.

Many people living with HIV (PLHIV) experience different forms of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and they are forced to be silent, because their perpetrators threaten them with exposure. Due to the high rate of stigmatisation in Nigeria, PLHIV rarely shares its status with people.

They are scared they may lose their jobs, and be despised by neighbours, fellow students, or members of their religious and cultural institutions. So, they suffer, and sometimes their perpetrators prevent them from taking their antiretrovirals (ARVs) and they heed.

Young girls. Pix: Unsplash.com

Young girls, especially from underserved communities, are disadvantaged in many ways. They hardly have role models to look up to and their families are impoverished. To survive, they unwillingly give up their bodies to older men for money. My work brings awareness and solutions to the struggles of PLHIV, teenagers, young children, and other victims of GBV. They are sensitised and empowered with the knowledge of their basic human rights so they can take charge of their lives, refuse and condemn violence, protect themselves, and become more in their communities. At the end of the day, they learn how to assess private and public resources available to assist them.

Inspiration behind body safety academy
Body Safety Academy provides coaching and consultation services on all aspects of child protection, sexual abuse, abuse investigations, risk assessment, exploitation prevention, etc. My academy is dedicated to enlightening and supporting families with well-mapped-out strategies to prevent child abuse.

Children are the purest creatures on earth; it’s disheartening they experience different forms of abuse, sometimes under the watchful eyes of adults who should know better. At Body Safety Academy, children are empowered with body safety education.

I want every child to be confident and aware of his or her basic human rights. I want every child fearless. I want every child in the world to know how special and beautiful they are. I aim to make every child understand NO ONE has the right to harm them in any way.

I want them to know they have a VOICE and it’s powerful. I am teaching them how to use their voices against the powers that seek to keep them downtrodden and in bondage. I want every child free from abuse. I want every child to know how to use the word ‘NO’ without feeling guilty.

I want every child to understand and apply ‘consent and boundaries’ in their daily lives. I want every child to know what to do in harmful situations. I want every child to have the knowledge, skills, and resources they can use when they need help. This is why I started Body Safety Academy.

My book my safety conversations
My safety Conversations teaches parents and educators how to teach body safety education simply to children aged four to 10. It does this in a question-and-answer format; the answers are written in the voice of a confident child who has been taught body safety. It demystifies the shame and ignorance parents have about private parts and appropriate sex education. It is a guide for adults to use on children.

My book is a must-have for parents, guardians, and educators who want to arm children with safety strategies to prevent sexual abuse. As you enlighten them using My Safety Conversations, you will be learning as well; there is intriguing and useful information for every parent intending to raise ‘safety conscious’ kids.

Three Women who inspire me why
H.E Dr. Ameena Ali – She is a Medical doctor, humanitarian par excellence, touch bearer, a beacon of hope, and a global campaigner against sexual and gender-based violence. She is working tirelessly to ensure victims are saved and become empowered for themselves and their communities. Through her social impact organisation (FIGHR), she has produced champions, instructors, diplomats, and ambassadors in human rights, SGBV, maternal and child care, mental health, etc.

Late Prof. Dora Akunyili

Late Dora Akunyili – She fought tirelessly to ensure Nigerian citizens receive the best in terms of food and drugs. She fought Nigeria’s drug counterfeit problems and WON even with threats to her life and family. Her team consisted of mostly female inspectors and Pharmacists, together they fought the menace of counterfeit drugs and came out successful thereby saving the lives of millions of Nigerians.

Alheri Magaji – Is an incredible human with a heart of gold. Through RADI, an NGO, she has touched the lives of the most vulnerable people in Kaduna State who have been incessantly attacked by Fulani herdsmen, kidnappers, and bandits. Alheri has worked tirelessly to provide healthcare, sources of income, housing, food, education (most of these children lost their families), clothing, etc.

Challenges
1. Families of victims rarely want their perpetrators indicted. Most believe the incident is shameful and want no further exposure.
2. Funding for projects. The projects and needs of the stakeholders surpass the funds received. This has influenced the number of beneficiaries and projects executed. This is one challenge that aims to hold us back but in such times we happily use our funds and continue to apply for more grants.
3. Ignorance about Sexual and Reproductive Health Education. The unawareness of bodily autonomy, the rights of children, and body safety are alarming.
Being A Woman Of Rubies

Just like the hardness of the ruby, my experiences have cultivated resilience in me. My imperfections remind me I’m human and I should be kind to myself. I make mistakes but I don’t let them weigh me down but use them as stepping stones to achieve my goals.

Importance of parents having the safe sex talk with their children
Every parent who grew up in homes where sex was a taboo topic must demystify the shame, fear, and ignorance that was instilled. Unfortunately, this acts as an impediment to teaching body safety and sex education. A child who is armed with safety strategies to prevent sexual abuse will hardly fall prey to destructive peers or adults who want to lead them astray.

There is this confidence ‘safety conscious’ children possess, you can almost see this expression: ‘I am not one to be messed with.’ Do not for any reason prevent your children from obtaining it. A child becomes sensual at age three, body safety education should be started earlier with the correct identification and use of anatomical names of all their body parts, including the private parts.

You can start body parts awareness and identification as early as a year old, although I started earlier with my daughter. My students have achieved great success with their kids. When a child starts body safety early, you will never hear them murmur, whisper or laugh awkwardly when the proper names of the private parts are mentioned. They will use these words in conversations when needed, freely and without shame. They will confidently reprimand and report anyone who attempts to touch them inappropriately.

Body safety nuggets
Body safety education is a lifesaver. For parents, guardians, and educators who learn to enlighten children, their lives will never remain the same. Children hardly lie about sexual abuse but most have been shunned and condemned when they shared their stories. Never shut them down, blame them, or insist they are lying. If you do, they’d handle issues without telling you anything next time and they will suffer greatly at the hands of sexual abusers. If your child can have any kind of conversation with you without feeling scared, you’re on the right track. These are somebody safety nuggets for your children;

I) Strangers are not the only sexual abusers in the world. Anyone can be one, including loved ones and people you know.
Your private parts are special and beautiful. They should be called by their correct names like the other parts of your body.
III) It’s okay for you to stand up for yourselves.
IV) Look into anyone’s eyes as you speak to them.
V) You do not have to be around anyone whose actions make you uncomfortable, scared, and confused.

You have every right to use these sentences when you’re scared or confused;
●No
●Stop it, I don’t like it.
●Don’t do this, again.
●Don’t touch me.
●I don’t want to sit on your thighs.
●I don’t want to hug you.
●I’m okay by myself.

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