Alliances for Africa (AFA), a feminist Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) based in Imo state has developed the ‘Kpoturum’ web application; a technological tool for reporting and documenting cases of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) especially Sexual and Gender Based Violence(SGBV) in the South East region of Nigeria.
Kpoturum is coined from the Igbo language meaning call on me. It was chosen to resonate with the indigenous people of Igbo, particularly, women and girls’ survivors, by way of reassuring them that they can get help.
AFA disclosed this in a statement made available to the media on Wednesday, explaining that Kpoturum was born out of a deep-seated commitment to change the heart-wrenching narrative of SGBV.
“We witnessed firsthand the pain and frustration of survivors whose stories were trivialized, dismissed, or silenced. Their courage inspired us to create a technological tool that could transform their experiences into powerful, undeniable evidence of a pervasive problem
“In a world where the harrowing stories of survivors of violence against women and girls often go unheard or are tragically trivialized, we are proud to introduce Kpoturum, a powerful online web application designed to give survivors a voice, dignity, and the justice they deserve, with the utmost confidentiality.
“The Kpoturum App is a technological tool for reporting and documenting cases of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) in the South-East region of Nigeria. This online registry aims to gather, compile, and analyze data on VAWG by recording instances of sexual and gender-based violence in the South-East States (Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo States),” the statement explained.
The statement noted that VAWG is a global epidemic, affecting millions of lives each year, regretting that this form of violence has not only become deeply ingrained in the society but also accepted as the norm.
“Yet, too often, these stories are met with disbelief, indifference, or even ridicule. Survivors are left to grapple with the trauma and injustice in isolation, their experiences diminished and ignored. Despite the concerted efforts of various stakeholders to combat this issue through extensive awareness campaigns and immediate response services, the problem persists,” it stated.
The statement expressed worry that incidents of VAWG continue to rise, often hiding behind the shield of bias, culture, tradition, religion, and the perpetrators’ impunity, adding that sexual assault against minors is disturbingly prevalent, as indicated by global statistics and academic research.
“Unfortunately, the available statistics fail to accurately depict the full extent of the problem due to several limiting factors, including a culture of silence, inadequate data documentation and analysis systems, and the limited scope of research projects,” it added.
“The primary purpose of Kpoturum is to facilitate survivors’ access to justice by efficiently documenting cases, offering referrals, and managing VAWG cases. Kpoturum is more than just an app; it’s a lifeline for survivors. It provides a safe and confidential space for survivors to document their experiences and seek support.
“It aim to: amplify Voices: Kpoturum amplifies the voices of survivors, ensuring their stories are heard and believed.
Collect Data: By collating data on incidents of violence, we can identify trends, gaps, and areas for intervention.
“Empower Change: Armed with evidence, we empower advocates, policymakers, and organizations to drive change.
End Stigma: Through confidentiality, Kpoturum challenges the stigma surrounding survivors, fostering a culture of empathy and accountability.
“The features in Kpoturum allow the user to: Report cases of Sexual and Gender-based Violence (SGBV) as survivors, third parties or service providers whilst ensuring confidentiality of the information provided.
Access to service providers’ information thus, bridging the gap between survivors and service providers.
“Access to information on gender-based violence (GBV). Call helplines and toll-free numbers including Alliances for Africa’s toll-free number for immediate response and Testimonials and success stories of GBV champion’s closed cases.
Access to a comprehensive directory of service providers of GBV,” the statement noted.
AFA therefore called on Key State, Non-State actors, stakeholders and relevant bodies to join the fight against violence and leverage the benefits of this tool to ensure that data on VAWG is available and accessible for strategic interventions.
“Kpoturum is not just an app; it’s a movement to end the trivialization of survivors’ stories,” the statement added.
