By Lucky Isibor
A Civil Society Organisation (CSO), the Big Family 360 Foundation has called on Edo people to use its Computer Application known as the SMARTRR App to report cases of violence during the polling in the Edo State governorship election holding on Saturday, 21 September; assuring that any concern raised through the app will be taken up promptly and addressed with the appropriate authorities.
The Executive Director of the foundation, Dirug Samuel made the call in Benin City on Thursday, 19 September while demonstrating the workings of the computer application to members of CSOs and journalists in Benin City.
Speaking during the demonstration of the app which was organised in collaboration with “Rally for Peaceful Election”, Samuel pointed out that the app SMARTRR can be downloaded on the google play store and urged those who may not have access to the internet network to dial the code 3473090# to report any incident of violence especially violence against women and other vulnerable groups.
“We are here in Edo State to pilot the use of the application on SMART Report and Referral for violence against women and the vulnerable during election. This is a laudable initiative because we know that violence has been perpetrated against women, girls and vulnerable population during elections which stops them from exercising their civic rights. We are here to deploy the SMARTRR to enable women report all forms of violence perpetrated against them during this election” he said.
Also speaking, the Chief Responsibility of Josemaria Escriva Foundation (JOSEF), Ekpoma and Co-Convener of Rally for Peaceful Election, Dr. Jude Obasanmi, noted that research has shown that people are violated during elections, hence the CSOs are collaborating to create awareness on the use of the app to report cases of violence during elections.
“We are using the opportunity to create awareness for people to be conscious particularly when it comes to Gender Based Violence. Based on research we realise that during elections people are usually violated, that’s why we are collaborating to have this programme so that if you go to the polling unit to vote on election day, you can on the spot report violence against potential voters. So this programme is to introduce the app to CSOs who can also share among their network and platforms”.
Also speaking, Convener, Rally for Peaceful Election, Dr. Bright Oniovokukor, Convener pointed out that the programme is part of activities lined up by Rally for Peaceful Election to ensure there’s peace during the Edo governorship election.
According to Oniovokukor, “This programme is part of activities we’ve been having as a build up to the election. We have five episodes, four before the election and one after the election.
This particular one is also to give us opportunity to demonstrate the workings of a particular app that will enable people to seek for help, seek for support seek for assistance, whether it is security, violence or whatever. That will also assure people that if you are a crisis situation during the election you call for support using the app and it will also encourage people to come out to vote during the election”.
The SMARTRR has a unique feature that makes the person reporting anonimous, so there’s no fear of reprisal from perpetrators.