Port Harcourt-------------- The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, has expressed concern over rising cases of sexual and gender based violence in the country.
The Executive Secretary of the commission, Mr Tony Ojukwu expressed his concern on Monday during a two-day Special Investigation Panel on Sexual and Gender Based Violence, SGBV, in Nigeria organised by NHRC in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
Ojukwu, also expressed worry over what he described as the meddlesomeness of religious and traditional rulers in cases of sexual violence against women saying that they use their privileged positions to settle such cases traditionally, thereby, preventing justice from taking its due course.
Ojukwu said the public hearing which was partly sponsored by the European Union, EU, and United Nations Spotlight Initiative sought to create awareness of the prevalence of SGBV in the country.
He further noted that, the Federal Government was equally worried over the situation and was now fully committed to tackling the menace by seeking justice for victims of sexual violence.
His words, “Sexual and gender based violence is a human problem which even though affects both sexes weighs heavily against women and girls.
“SGBV has been booming in Nigeria because most victims do not come out to speak for fear of discrimination, stigmatisation and because they don’t get remedy.
“The NHRC wants to change this menace which is prevalent in our society and shrouded in silence discrimination and stigmatisation of women.
“So, this hearing seeks to create awareness that there are consequences to sexual violence and that perpetrators would be held accountable and victims compensated.
“So, this hearing seeks to create awareness and restore public confidence that government is listening as perpetrators would be held accountable and victims compensated."
Ojukwu also said that research had shown that one in three women in the country would in their lifetime experience sexual or physical violence, pointing out that the panel had so far received over 40 petitions of SGBV from victims in Rivers State in the second round of its hearing also held in Adamawa, Abuja and Sokoto.
He further noted that the Federal Government had so far been unable to reduce the rising cases of sexual violence due to interference of traditional and religious leaders.
He further said, “Traditional and religious rulers are frustrating our fight on SGBV because they use cultural and traditional practices to settle cases which in itself encourages perpetrators to commit more sexual violence.
“So, there has to be awareness among the traditional rulers, chiefs and religious leaders on the new way of thinking that is not based on the old traditional practices.
“The new way must be based on human rights and acknowledgement on the equality of women for sexual violence which they have suffered."
The Secretary of the Panel, Mr Okey Agu, said the panel would receive and investigate SGBV cases as well as listen to testimonies of victims.
According to him, the panel had mapped out eleven objectives to address, including review of extant laws and give perpetrators the opportunity to tell their own side of the story.
Others are to identify victims of violations during raids by joint security task forces; raise awareness for people to speak up; end impunity; document incidences of SGBV and formulate policies for the government.
Speaking, Mrs Stella Amanie, Leader of Society for Women and Youth Affairs in Rivers, said that Civil Society Organisations were faced with challenges to effectively fight sexual violence against women.
Amanie said the challenges of handling sexual abuse cases to acceptance of victims to speak up; logistics to handling cases and shortage of funds to effectively prosecute cases were some of the issues impeding investigations of such cases..
The NHRC recently held similar public hearings in Enugu, Lagos, Ebonyi and Cross River with hundreds of victims reportedly submitting petitions to the commission.
