The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, has called for a collaboration and strong legislation to tackle rape, sexual and gender base violence in Nigeria.
In a statement by the Lagos State Coordinator, NHRC, Mr Lucas Koyejo, to commemorate the one week of activism against rape and other gender based violence in Lagos, the body called on the government, the civil society groups and well meaning Nigerians to work together for an effective response to violence against women and children.
According to him, except that Nigerians and the world over are ready to deal with the issues headlong, nothing positive may be achieved. He therefore appeal for collaborations and effective legislation to deal with the cases of violation, victimisation and harrasment of women and children in Nigeria in particular and the world over.
He submitted that “there is no doubt that rape and gender based violence is one of the most pervasive violations of human rights in the world, one of the least prosecuted crimes, and one of the greatest threats to lasting peace and development.”
Speaking on the rate at which such violence grows in Nigeria, Koyejo noted, “the incidence of rape and domestic violence in Nigeria is fast assuming a pandemic status comparable if not more serious than covid-19. The media have been inundated with news and stories of rape and indecent assault against mostly women and children and pathetically in some cases babies. In many cases the victims were also murdered in the process.”
He noted that the NHRC cannot allow the situation to continue as noted by the commission’s Executive Secretary recently, maintaining that the violations, “has become a serious social malady which is taking an epidemic proportion and it must be urgently curtailed.
“Rape and other SGBV has tremendous costs to individuals and communities. It has a negative lasting impact on the physical, social and psychological wellbeing of victims with direct impact on communities, nations and societies. If left unaddressed, these human rights violations pose serious consequences for current and future generations,” it added.
Speaking on effects of violations on women and children, NHRC noted: “The effect of violence can remain with women and children for a lifetime, and can pass from one generation to another. Studies have shown that children who have witnessed or been subjected to sexual violence are more likely to become victims or abusers themselves.
“For an effective response to this violence, different sectors in society must work together. There is need to strengthen laws that deals with rape and SGBV to conform to the serious gravity of the offence through stiffer penalties and most importantly enforcement of the laws against gender-based violence will go a long way in checking the current dangerous trend. No rapist or abuser should be allowed to go free.”
The commission also advocated that rape survivor must have rapid access to a health clinic that can administer emergency medical care, while a woman beaten by her husband must have some place to go with her children to enjoy safety and shelter.
He promised that ending rape and other violence in the society is of the NHRC’s key priorities and a critical part of it’s mandate to protect and promote human rights.
