“100 Women Are Raped In Lagos Weekly” – Esther Ijewere-Kalejaiye

(Culled from CITY PEOPLE MAGAZINE)

Esther Ijewere-Kalejaiye engages in social development work as a way of life. That is what she does for a living. She does this out of a strong passion for humanity and the need to build a better society.

She is the CEO of Rubies Ink Initiative, a social enterprise outfit devoted to Youth advocacy. Esther brings the young and young-at-heart together from time to time to lend a voice to the victims of rape and demand justice on the perpetrators.

Recently, she wrote a book “Breaking The Silence” that gives the knowledge needed to survive sexual situations. “Everyone, particularly female, is prone to be a victim of rape attempted rape or sexual assault, hence, the need to be properly sensitized on rape and its reality”, she says.

Esther Ijewere-Kalejaiye contributes to the society through her various advocacy platforms Walk Against Rape and Project Capable.

She spoke to City People’s FOLASADE AKINMOLADUN about her book and work.

What inspired you to write this book?

Well in the last 5 years I have been lending my voice to victims of rape and abuse in partnership with Lagos State Government and Ministry of Women Affairs, and we have been walking the talk so, I felt it's time for us to talk the walk. Because apparently people are tired of walking and now its time for us to educate people on why we are walking.

Have you had any personal experience so far?

Personally no, but I know a lot of people who have been raped and have gone through sexual assault.

What was the turning point for you?

It’s my strong passion for humanity, I want to give back to the society.

Can you take us through the book?

It’s an educative book and the idea is to purge people of the scourge of rape and the main point of the book is to make people know that they can actually get help, so we have put everything in one small book to say you can get help here, you can get lawyers and even doctors, so the book tells you how to get help. It’s all about educating people on what to do when they find themselves in sexual situations such as rape.

When did you publish the book?

Last year October.

Do you think the book has motivated people?

To the glory of God, so far so good the vision of the book is to make State, Federal and Local Government buy copies of the book and give to citizens because over a 100 girls are being raped in Lagos weekly. I have people who have bought the book and have called to report cases of rape.

Do you intend to publish another book?

Let’s still calm down and see how this one fares, you know we can’t just keep publishing books, we want to see how far people warm up to this book.

How good has the publicity of the book been?

It’s not been bad, we have a blog that we use to educate people on rape and sexual abuse. We are on twitter, heavy on facebook as well. We also work hand in hand with the Ministry Of Women Affairs And Poverty Alleviation. The Deputy Governor of Lagos State endorsed the book and has a goodwill message in the book. Abike Dabiri wrote the foreword on the book so that should tell you a lot about the book already.

These are women who command respect so for them to have a word on this book means that they believe in the concept of this book.

What message do you have for rape victims?

Speak up! Thats the message we are trying to pass on in this book, if we don’t have perpetrators, if there are no rape victims there will be no one to be brought to book. Some people don’t believe in rape because some of these people will say rape does not happen, that there is no such thing as that, so if people come out to tell you they have been raped, you know there is a case.

Where and where have you been to publicise this book?

A lot of places, we have been to radio stations, TV stations even the print media, now we are here. So the main aim is not to sell this book, but to give to well established organisations and government to preach this message to the society.

One last word to rape victims

Well a rape-free society is very possible, I want people to know that it starts with me and you. People should start reporting cases about uncles and fathers and cousins in the house that rape our daughters and girls and report to the government. The government of Lagos State is trying very hard to combat rape but if we don’t help the government we would just be making their job harder.

What punishment do you think should be meted out to them?

Life imprisonment, the Deputy Governor of Lagos State is currently working on that.

How many rape victims have you come across so far?

I have lost count, they are so many.

Where do you normally keep them?

We take them to the Ministry of Women Affairs, there is a counselling unit there. You know for those who want to fight for justice we get them Lawyers and take them to the doctor for medical help, because rape victims need medical help first of all, then a report that there has been a rape medically, then, every other thing follows.

To what extent does rape affect the victims?

Psychologically, the trauma is unimaginable some of these victims don’t heal at all. Some don’t trust again some get very angry, some other ones you can’t even talk to them so it depends on the psychological effect. For example, if it happens when the child is very young, that child may never respect the adults of that house and you see the child acting awkwardly. It depends on the child and how it happens. A child who has been gang-raped for example you do not expect that child to be okay for life.

Can we meet you?

My name is Esther Ijewere Kalejaiye. I am the CEO of Rubies Ink Initiative a Youth Development and Advocacy Organisation. We are the conveners of the Walk Against Rape campaign and the Inter-Secondary School Summit Project.