To tackle the menace of rape and gender-based violence in Nigeria, the Federal Government says it is currently engaging key players for the establishment of specialised courts to handle such cases.
This was made known during a joint media briefing by the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister for Justice at the Federal Ministry of Justice Headquarters in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
The number of rape cases committed in Nigeria is rising and this has been blamed on the Covid-19 lockdown. This has prompted the Federal Government to swing into action.
Solicitor General of the Federation, Dayo Akpata, who represented the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami said review of all existing laws and policy instruments relating to offences of rape, child defilement and gender-based violence in Nigeria will commence soon.
Furthermore, he said his Office has constituted an inter-ministerial committee on the eradication of gender-based violence made up of representatives of the Federal Ministry of Justice and other key players.
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The terms of reference of the committee is to develop sexual abuse, violence prevention strategy for the period 2022 -2025 that will encapsulate response to rape and gender-based violence cases, and to determine and clear institutional responsibility for all the relevant stakeholders across the country.
While handing over the Commission’s call for action letter for a legal and policy reform to fight against the menace, the NHRC Executive Secretary, Tony Ojukwu wants Nigerians to know the necessary steps to take in preservation of rape evidences.
The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA and the United Nations have lend their voices to the fight against rape in the country.
According to statistics by the Nigerian Police Force, a total of 717 rape and gender-based violence cases were recorded between January and May this year. Out of this, only 631 cases have been conclusively investigated and charged to court while 52 cases are still being investigated.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
