photo exhibition launches to fight against sexual abuse

The much anticipated HERE photo exhibition organized by The Initiative for Equal Rights (TIERs) in partnership with Stand To End Rape Initiative (STER) was officially launched yesterday, Sunday April 30, 2017 at the Silverbird Galleria, Lagos.
The photo exhibition is aimed at using pictures to tell stories of people who have suffered from sexual abuse.



While describing the exhibition, OluwaseunAyodejiOsowobi, Executive Director, Stand To End Rape Initiative, mentioned that when she was abused seven years ago, there was no organization to stand with her through the entire process. This served as a motivation to start up an organization aimed at telling stories of those who have been sexually abused and to support them through the entire recovery process.

“The Here campaign is for those who have been sexually abused but are not able to tell their stories physically, through this exhibition we are helping them tell their stories using pictures” Osowobi said.
JumokeSanwo, Creative Director, Revolving Art Incubator, said she hopes the exhibition generates the right conversation that will influence positive actions from law makers, law enforcers, and the community, that’s what they are trying to communicate.

While addressing guests at the exhibition, OlumideMakanjuola, Executive Director of The Initiative for Equal Rights mentioned that it is an avenue to talk about the sexual abuse straight people and members of the LGBT community go through daily in the society.

“Tonight has been amazing, because it has been an avenue where we can talk about everything without holding back, but realizing that there is a problem. It is amazing that we can tell the stories of people who have suffered from sexual abuse, abuse from the public and the police because of their sexual orientation,” Makanjuola said.

“I’m also inviting everyone to be here during the closing on May 14, let's have conversations about sexual abuse and rape, because you never know, it could happen to anyone,” he added.

The exhibition also featured a panel discussion which featured media personality, AritOkpo; writer, TitilopeSonuga; and Head Psychotherapist of STER, Amanda Iheme.

The exhibition is now officially open to the public. It will stay open till Sunday May 14, 2017.