Severe measures will be taken against perpetrators of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in Nigeria as a move to curtail the growing rate of violence against women and girls.
Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs. Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye stated this at a news conference in Abuja to kick-start this year’s 16 days of Activism with a theme “Invest to prevent violence against women and girls.’’
She said plans are underway for the establishment of mobile courts backed by state governments and relevant agencies, to ensure that offenders face appropriate sanctions and urged parents to remain vigilant to protect their children and wards from falling victim to gender-based issues.
“If we do not teach our children how to report their plight, how will you know that child has been molested and maltreated, some of us are lacking in this aspect. If your child for instance is molested, we are not only going to sue the person that molested the child we will sue you for negligence,” Mr. Mister said.
Also speaking, Mr. Mathias Schmale, the UN Resident Coordinator in Nigeria, called on the government to increase gender-responsive budgeting and develop strategies to eliminate societal norms and issues contributing to such violence.
“The importance of women empowerment and the implementation of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act, which has been domesticated by most states, as crucial steps to addressing these pervasive problems,” Schmale said.
