Women at Risk International Foundation (WARIF) is a non-profit organization founded and incorporated in 2016 by Dr. Kemi DaSilva-Ibru MD; MPH, in response to the high incidence of r**e, sexual violence and human trafficking of young girls and women in communities across Nigeria. Our vision is to build a society free of r**e and sexual violence. The organisation achieves its overarching objectiv
e of awareness and addressing the prevalence of this problem through a unique holistic “WARIF Approach” which targets 3 specific pillars – Health, Education and Community Service .
1. The Health Pillar: Post -Incident Treatment at the WARIF R**e Crisis Centre: a sexual assault referral centre where survivors of r**e and sexual violence are offered immediate medical care, forensic medical examinations, HIV, sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy tests and post exposure HIV drugs are administered. Psychosocial counselling, legal aid and access to shelters and vocational skills training are also made available to survivors. Read more HERE
2. The Educational Pillar: The successful implementation of the Prevention of Campus Sexual Violence in Tertiary Institutions program is carried out across the country to tackle the issues of gender based violence amongst students on campuses; as well as programs targeting the adolescent elementary and high school girl and boy with the WARIF Educational School Project (WESP) and the Boys Conversation Cafe (BCC). These specifically designed educational programs highlight to young adolescent girls; the prevention of sexual violence, its effects, how to report and refer cases to the WARIF Centre, while young boys are mentored on changing their prevailing mindsets on r**e and are encouraged to become protectors rather than perpetrators. Read more on WESP HERE and on BCC HERE
3. The Community Service Pillar: Community projects are designed for both the urban city and the grassroot rural settings such as the WARIF Gate Keepers Project with the training of community leaders such as traditional birth attendants on become first respondents in treating and reporting the cases of r**e in their communities as well as the training of other community leaders such as law enforcement agents and religious and traditional rulers on the awareness of gender based violence, the proper procedures for mediation, reporting and referring cases of sexual violence. Read more HERE
According to UN Women, it is estimated that 35 percent of women worldwide have experienced either physical and/or sexual violence. In Nigeria, findings from a 2014 National survey on violence against children revealed that 1 in 4 females have experienced sexual violence prior to age 18, of which 5.0% sought help, with only 3.5% receiving any services. The statistic confirms the increasing risk of this this violence, often perpetrated by boys or men, and the need to intensify interventions to prevent and report cases of r**e and sexual violence and ensure the safety and protection of all women and girls.
