President Muhammadu Buhari led government has announced the immediate inauguration of a Gender-Based Violence Management Committee.
Abubakar Malami, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice revealed this on Thursday.
He condemned the prevalent and rising incidence of rape and sexual assault in the country.
Malami said incidents of rape cases in the country have increased dramatically in the last few weeks, resulting in the brutal murder of some victims.
The statement observed that the development has sparked outrage in Nigeria and abroad.
The minister noted the Federal Ministry of Justice has identified with calls for national response against rape and sexual assault in the country.
Malami said in fulfillment of the Ministry’s mandate and its determination to urgently address this heinous crime, his office “will immediately inaugurate an Inter-Ministerial Gender-Based Violence Management Committee”.
He said: “The committee will include skilled officers drawn from Federal Ministry of Justice, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Federal Ministry of Health, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, National Human Rights Commission, Nigerian Legal Aid Council, Nigeria Police Force Civil Society Organisations, among others.”
The committee will be charged with proffering a synchronized approach to address all forms of violence against women and children in the country.
The AGF said it will review all the existing laws so as to propose to the National Assembly necessary legislative changes to ensure that the offences of rape and child defilement are dealt with in consonance with international best practices.
The Centre will provide “comprehensive and appropriate support services to ensure that victims and survivors of sexual offences are not subjected to further stigmatization and trauma by maintaining a Sexual Assault Referral Centre which will be domiciled in the Federal Ministry of Justice Headquarters”.
Malami explained that the Centre will respond to immediate Gender-Based Violence related issues and will continue to provide a rapid and comprehensive response through prosecution of all forms of violence against women and children.
Malami assured of speedy processing of stalled and pending cases of rape and child defilement that got delayed due to closure of courts and government institutions during the COVID -19 lockdown period.
He reaffirmed the policy of opposing bail and rejecting plea bargain proposals from perpetrators of rape and child defilement.
The new policy will boost the Federal Government’s conviction of sex offenders and ensure they “do not benefit from the power of prerogative of mercy”.
“The Federal Ministry of Justice will, in driving these processes bring together the 36 State’s Attorneys General to consider effective
collaborative support to stem the growing tide of rape and sexual assault”.
The statement disclosed that a meeting of the stakeholders including the States’ Attorneys General will be carried out through a scheduled virtual conference in due course.
Malami empathized with victims, survivors and family members of such violence and expressed hope that new efforts will tackle “these crimes against humanity” and ensure a better Nigeria devoid of gender-based violence.
Source: Daily Post
What is FG response to police underfunding (logistics carry out proper investigations) as one of the impediments for police to follow up reported cases to logical conclusion and being perpetrators to book
This is a welcome development.
Great idea. Quite commendable. BUT, plz I suggest a representative from FIDA. Thanks.
This is a good step in the right direction.
To get this task done and effectively too, the Committee, should create a space for Civil Society Organisations , like Association Against Child Sexual and Gender Based Violence, a community driven , CBO led coalition registered with CAC in Nigeria to coordinate the National Stakeholders Child Sexual Gender Based Violence responce . AACSGBV which has a National spread, and has organized structure that spans from State Responce Referral Committee, LGA, Ward , Quarters to the compound level Response Referral Team s.
Gender Based Violence is a community and grassroot challenge.
Involve this group and the Committee will get a major Stakeholders in Nigeria together to attain a final end to rape and other Sexual and Gender Based Violence offences. The AACSGBV website is http://www.aacsgbv.org.ng
The committee should also ensure that the people are sensitised, so they can speak up, I also recommend the AACSGBV for this task.
People should understand different types of GBV through capacity building awareness creation to let them take responsibility of their actions .all MDA’s should have unit for dealing with GBV.Budget allocation is also needed for speedy take up and support for victims of GBV.This is a very good action by the president .Thank you
Great news! This is a welcome development. However, similar steps were taken in the past in reaction to certain issues and at the end, we don’t see the impact. What I think will make this one different will be (1) Develop an all encompassing strategy with input from wide range of stakeholders, which will be reviewed every 2 years at least, (2) A strong policy backing in terms of legislation at all levels backed by rigorous awareness creation of those policies, and (3) Availability of adequate resources, human, financial, material and technical to support the implementation of the strategy.
I believe once these 3 things are put in place, the committee will be better positioned to deliver on its mandate. By and large, I congratulate all those who participated in the campaign against all forms of GBV particularly rape. Let’s keep the fire burning
The Society For Abused Minors and AIDS Victims Reg with CAC 2006.would volunteer to be included as CSO/NGO.
We have an intervention campaign proposal across federation. We need a contact to communicate with.