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Like the impactful and life changing various programmes produced by the collaboration between the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and labour centres in Nigeria (NLC and TUC) to the benefit of workers (migrant and non-migrants) in Nigeria and by extension Africa at large, the Lawyers Alert SOS USSD code, recently launched to bring succor to victims of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, appears to be a revolutionary approach.
Focused on boosting the fight against the cases of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in workplaces, homes, markets and in the society and also give a helping hand to the victims of the menace, a humanitarian group, Lawyers Alert, over the weekend, launched a USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) code; *7006*24#, to improve access to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) information and services for women and vulnerable groups in Nigeria.
The Director of Programmes, Lawyers Alert, Roseline Oghenebrume, who spoke at the launch in Abuja, noted that engagement with various vulnerable groups had revealed that survivors in rural areas found it difficult to seek external help due to either lack of internet connection, transportation fare, data or mobile airtime.
She further explained that the project, which is at its pilot phase, is kickstarting with five states of Bauchi, Osun, Enugu, Kano and Benue.
Oghenebrume said that anyone in danger of sexual and gender-based abuse should simply dial*7006*24# on a smartphone or non-internet-based phone to seek instant help for free.
She also hinted that the service assures safety and confidentiality of every information transmitted by the users.
“Anyone in the bedroom, farms, corporate settings, etc, can use this USSD code. It brings down the wall of non-accessible assistance by victims of sexual and gender-based violence. It brings services and information to the doorstep of victims at no cost whatsoever. Victims do not need credit, airtime or phone data to access this.
“The USSD will bridge the gap between service providers and women by providing information on their rights and nearby services such as psychosocial support centres, shelters, health facilities, legal support, etc. It will address information gaps without internet connectivity acting as a potential barrier. It will aid speedy service delivery because findings have revealed that often, perpetrators of SGBV live under the same roof as the victims.
“The USSD codes will be invaluable regarding SGBV interventions both at policy and non-governmental levels, being posted in an informed and coordinated manner. We are equally confident that the USSD codes will hopefully create a ripple effect on other Nigerian states and West Africa,” she added.
Legal/Programme Officer, Lawyers Alert, Solumtochukwu Ozobulu, explained that the choice of the five states was based on locations where situations such as conflict and displacement were pushing women and girls to be more disadvantaged.
She also said the pilot phase was aimed at weighing how the code could serve women and girls in danger of abuse, and added that plans were already underway to escalate the intervention to other states and bring more Local Government Areas on board.
“We are aiming at using this code to serve women and girls specifically victims of SGBV. Lawyers Alert is all about proffering solutions to issues of human rights, etc. So, we are already working with other partners to see how the services provided by this code can be extended to other states, especially in the rural areas and how women and girls can access the services we provide in collaboration with our partners through this code.
“During the conception of this project, we have partners in different states who were sent to map service providers. So we already have service providers who will provide health services, psychosocial services, shelter and legal services. These four services are integrated in the code. So when you use the USSD code and you click the option of service, you will see the four services being provided by the project, that is, health, shelter, psychosocial and legal services.
“If you for example click shelter, it will bring out all the places we have shelter provision in that state. In a situation where someone is confused or unable to utilise the information session provided in the code, there is a toll free line that the person can call and Lawyers Alert will answer and direct the person,” she said.
On his part, Mr Rommy Mom, the Executive Director, Lawyers Alert, said, “It is important to know that Lawyers Alert has many projects and we are collaborating with different government agencies, ranging from the gender unit of the Nigerian police. We are collaborating with the National Human Rights Commission and NAPTIP and others. So this project simply subsumed into all the other projects we are collaborating with the different government agencies. No project stands alone.”
Team Lead, Ikra Foundation for Women and Youth Development in Bauchi State, Amina Garuba, said the USSD code would serve the vulnerable at the grassroots better saying, “They will be able to access services which they were not able to access before now. We look forward to giving our best to survivors of SGBV in Bauchi State.”
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