As Nigeria joins the rest of the world in the celebration of the 2025 International Women’s Day, the Executive Secretary of National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, Tony Ojukwu has expressed deep concern over alarming rise in rape cases and wife abandonment reported across the commissions offices in recent times.
He said these heinous crimes undermine the dignity and human rights of women and girls, perpetuating a culture of fear, silence, and impunity.
The commission expressed this in a statement and harping on the theme, “Accelerate Action”, it emphasized on the critical need for immediate and sustained steps to address the gender disparities that still exist in areas such as education, political representation, and other areas of human endeavour.
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Ojukwu called on government to strengthen laws and policies protecting women’s rights, ensure effective implementation, and provide adequate resources for victims’ support services.
He also charged law enforcement agencies to prioritize investigations and prosecutions of rape and gender-based violence cases, to ensure that perpetrators are held accountable.
The executive secretary also urged community leaders to promote a culture of respect, equality, and non-violence, address harmful social norms and practices that perpetuate violence against women.
(Editor: Okechukwu Eze)
