The Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs. Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, yesterday said 24,720 Gender-Based Violence (GBV) cases were reported in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) between September and October 3.
Kennedy-Ohanenye, who made this known while briefing newsmen on incessant cases of reported GBV, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), and other harmful traditional practices in the country, said, “We recorded about 24, 720 cases of various violence cases that were reported across the 36 states and FCT.”
“We also had 975 fatal cases, 1,505 cases that have been closed either at the court, community level, family, religious/traditional leaders, or by the survivors themselves due to fear and intimidation.
“Also, 8,540 open cases are still pending either at the police station or within the court, while only 306 were convicted and sentenced within the last four years across the country,” she said.
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While decrying the increasing figures, she urged stakeholders to urgently contribute towards eliminating the menace, which has become worrisome and affects the lives of citizens, particularly women and children.
The minister said establishing mobile courts, especially in rural communities will promote the rule of law, and access to justice, and enhance criminal justice pathways to address violence against women and girls.
She said, “If we don’t have a rule of law, there is no way we can solve any of these problems. If we have a rule of law and it is being delayed and the prosecution is not rightly done by pushing these cases and using the few people as examples to bring an end to all these things, we can never get it right.
“And can we get the rule of law without having a mobile court? If they could have a mobile court for traffic offenders? Why can’t we have a mobile court to protect and preserve the lives of our babies, women, vulnerable?”
According to her, the recent case of molestation of a nine-year-old allegedly by her father was under investigation, adding that the government will ensure that justice prevails.
The minister also decried incidences of jungle justice, whereby persons were being lynched by mobs, calling for drastic action to forestall such occurrences again and apprehend perpetrators.
She, therefore, reiterated the commitment of the government to end all forms of violence, ensure justice for victims and survivors, as well as promote women’s empowerment and girl-child education.
*FG to review 2017 national policy on justice to encapsulate SGBV
Also at the event, the Federal Government said it would review the 2017 national policy on justice to encapsulate Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) matters.
Justice Minister Lateef Fagbemi, SAN said this in his keynote address at a high-level engagement with states on Promoting the Rule of Law and Enhancing Criminal Justice Pathways to Address Sexual and Gender-Based Violence against Women and Girls.
The programme is organised by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Fagbemi, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary and Solicitor General of the Federation, Federal Ministry of Justice, Beatrice Jeddy-Agba noted that the review will aim at providing a sustainable framework to address SGBV challenges.
“Though the task ahead appears enormous, I call on all various states, stakeholders, state actors, and international development partners to commit to the effective implementation of all policy programmes and laws relating to SGBV.”
The Resident Representative of UNDP, Mr Simon Ridley, said the interventions under the EU-UN initiatives rooted in victims-centred modality, norms, and international standards reflected its shared commitment to creating a safer and more equitable world.
Both the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Director-General National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Person (NAPTIP), Dr Fatima Waziri-Azi, emphasised synergy, alignment, collaboration,, and support from the judiciary to win the war.
They both also agreed that their strengthening of zero tolerance to SGBV, establishing gender desks across the federation, and securing of different convictions were all pointers to their readiness.
NAN reports that the policy seeks to promote human rights and access to justice for all, especially the poor, weak, and vulnerable.
It also seeks to promote correctional and restorative justice and alternative dispute resolution; Preserve and maintain the plural character of the Nigerian legal system and promote independence and impartiality of the judiciary.
