Nigeria’s first Centre offering care and support to survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence has named a British royal as a patron.
Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall says she is “delighted” to take up the role and praised ‘the Mirabel Centre’s “vital work”.
Founded in 2013, the Centre is a safe refuge for women who have experienced rape and sexual assault and has provided free medical and psychosocial support services to more than 6,450 survivors.
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“It is a truly trailblazing organisation, supporting survivors of rape and sexual assault as they seek healing and justice,” Camilla, 74, said in a statement. “Their vital work means that women need no longer suffer in silence and I am deeply grateful to all Mirabel’s wonderful staff and volunteers.”
Her office at Clarence House said the Duchess will be working with a selection of Nigerian and British Nigerian women to find ways to help the center in the near future.
Founded in 2013, the facility in Lagos says it has given free medical and psychosocial support services to more 6,450 people.
Mirabel Centre founder Itoro Eze- Anaba said in press statement that their services were more in demand than ever, because the pandemic had “further revealed the endemic nature of sexual violence”.
“Our youngest survivor is a 3-month-old baby and the oldest, an 80-year-old woman,” she added, saying she was confident the duchess’s support would “make a difference”.
The move is the latest stage of an ongoing key interest of Camilla. In 2009, she set out on the journey to help raise awareness of women caught in violent relationships or who have been abused.