Young Writers Call for Poems, Essays on Rape, Violence Against Women

 …. Launches Campaign Against Rape, Inaugurates Steering Committee 

 

 

 

The society of Young Nigerian Writers (SYNW) has urged Nigerian writers and the general public to join in the fight against RAPE and VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN by contributing Poems and Essays in its forthcoming anthology titled “Get Consent”

In a press statement jointly issued and signed by the National Coordinator and Secretary of the Movement, Miss Angelica .C. Uwaezuoke, SYNW Coordinator (University of Nigeria Nsukka) and Mr. Innocent David’ Chinaecherem, SYNW Coordinator (Federal University of Technology Owerri) respectively, called on writers to lend their voices against this horrid act so as to drive a change in the perception of women-targeted sexual abuse.

Entries are expected in form of poetry and essays from the budding and established writers within and outside Nigeria. Intending entries should focus exclusively on the theme ‘RAPE and SEXUAL VIOLENCE’ and only works relating to the theme will be accepted for publication.

Writers are free to write on their personal experience or those of others in the form of essays or poems using any title of their choice. There is no monetary prize attached and submission is free and open to writers across the world.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

• Language Medium – English
• Genre – Poetry/Articles
• Theme – Rape and Police Brutality.
• Poems should be between the minimum of 20 lines and maximum of 40 lines while Essays should be between the minimum of 150 and the maximum of 300.

• Entrants should send the following information alongside their entries

1. Name
2. Age

iii. Gender

1. Location
2. Phone Number
3. Where you heard about the Call for entries

vii. Short Profile about yourself.

viii. Permission to publish your poem/essay (in one or two paragraphs)

1. Name of school or university if any

• A Sentence of not more than 50 words describing the poem.
• Permission to publish your work among the shortlisted entries.
• Title of your mail should be addressed as “Raise your pen against Rape”
• All entries must be submitted to: raiseyourpenagainstrape@gmail.com and also copy societyofyoungnigerianwriters@gmail.com.
• Deadline for Submission is 15^th of August, 2020.
• Any signs of plagiarism will disqualify the entrant.
• Organizer’s decision is final

 

Meanwhile, the association, an umbrella body of Young Writers between the ages of 10 and 40 in Nigeria has launched a new national campaign tagged “RAISE YOUR PEN AGAINST RAPE AND VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN” and also appointed a national steering committee to coordinate the project.

According to Uwaezuoke, “UNICEF reported in 2015 that one in four girls and one in ten boys in Nigeria had experienced sexual violence before the age of 18. According to a survey by Positive Action for Treatment Access, over 31.4 percent of girls there said that their first sexual encounter had been rape or forced sex of some kind.”

“Also a four-year review of sexual assault cases at LASUTH that began in 2008 and ended in December 2012, showed that out of a total 287 reported cases of sexual assault, 83% of the victims were below the age of 19. A one-year survey conducted at Enugu State University Teaching Hospital between 2012 and 2013 revealed that 70% of sexual assault victims were under the age of 18. In the Enugu survey, majority of the victims knew their perpetrators and the assault occurred inside uncompleted buildings and the victims or perpetrators residence.”

“As writers, our primary job is to reflect and interpret happenings in our society; we must also provide inspiration and guidance in our writings. Our job therefore is to inform, to explain, to narrate, and to persuade. The function of a committed writer is to reveal the world so that every reader loses her innocence and assumes all her responsibilities in front of it.”

Other committee members appointed to assist in the coordination of the newly established initiative include: Abdulrazak Denja Balema (SYNW Coordinator,  Federal University Lokoja), Sakinah Yusuf (SYNW Coordinator , Bayero University Kano), Adebayo Iwalola (SYNW Coordinator, Adekunle Ajasin University), Chinwendu Chinonyerem Emmanuel Rays (SYNW Coordinator,  (Alvan Ikoku College of Education), Eniola Anowo (SYNW Coordinator, Olabisi Onabanjo University), Henry Ndifreke Precious (SYNW Coordinator, University of Abuja) Cynthia Chukwunenye Maduekwe  (SYNW Coordinator, University of Calabar), Alabi Mathew Damilare (SYNW Coordinator, University of Lagos), Adebobola Victor Ademayowa  (SYNW Coordinator, Federal University, Oye Ekiti), Ademola Ayomide Miracle (SYNW Coordinator, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta), Yusuf Opeere (SYNW Coordinator,  Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, Moor Plantation, Ibadan) Kehinde Gbadeyanka (SYNW Oyo), Etumnu Emeka Williams (SYNW Imo) Ademola Oluwabukola Christiana (Federal Polytechnic, Ede)  and lastly Ayegh Lubem (SYNW Benue).

 

The body also appointed Mr. Izunna Okafor (SYNW Anambra) and Mr. Muhammad Musa (SYNW Kano) to supervise the running of the project.

 

For more information about the Movement, kindly log on to: https://raiseyourpenagainstrape.blogspot.com/