Aisha Buhari, has advocated for the setting up of special courts to handle cases of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) in the country.
The first lady made the appeal during the 2nd Annual Conference of Nigerian Governors Wives Forum (NGWF), on Thursday in Abuja.
The conference has as its theme, `Sustaining Action of the State of Emergency Against Sexual and Gender Based Violence’.
According to her, the special courts will ensure speedy dispensation of justice.
She expressed concern over the continuous rise in SGBV cases and said it was imperative to scale up multi-dimensional approaches and strategies to combat all forms of GBV.
She attributed the pervasive rise in the cases across the country to cultural norms and beliefs that encouraged physical, sexual, psychological and economic violence, impunity and lack of justice, among others.
“There is need for every State in Nigeria to domesticate the VAPP Act, even though it is encouraging to note that at least 30 States have signed the VAPP.
“There is need to encourage the remaining six states to do so as soon as possible, because the lives of women and children continue to be at risk.
“Efforts need to be ramped up to provide adequate shelter and care for victims of GBV and every state should have a shelter, ideally every local government or at least Senatorial district should have one.
“It is also very important to have Sexual Assault Referral Centers or Safe Spaces where victims can receive the required immediate and long-term support
“We need special courts where applicable, for speedy and effective handling of rape and GBV cases,’’ she said.
Mrs Buhari said that the Girl-Child in Nigeria would continue to be a victim of exploitation and missed opportunities, if nothing was done to remove the obstacles they face in getting decent education.
She said that state governments and donor communities needed to ensure adequate funding for GBV interventions.
“Without this, the lofty laws we are trying to put in place will not be implemented; we all have a role to play in ensuring that we address this menace.‘’
Dr Kayode Fayemi, Chairman, Nigerian Governors Forum and Governor of Ekiti State, said that a national secretariat for the Governors Wives Forum would be established soon in Abuja.
He said that the Governors Forum had provided funding support for the 16 days of activism against gender based violence.
Fayemi said line ministries, not just Ministry of Women Affairs, should be fully involved in the campaign to end SGBV in the country.
“The budgetary allocation to fight Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) will reflect in relevant ministries. All will not be lumped up in the Ministry of Women Affairs.
“Governors are resolutely committed to what the governors’ wives forum is doing.
“It makes economic, political and common sense to line up behind you in order to be able to deliver all the promises that have been made to the people.
“I have secured the commitment of my brothers and the institutional set up, which is your national secretariat, has been agreed. Provide us with the needed details and we will set the ball rolling” he said.
Fayemi said that the 36 states governors were committed to ending gender based violence, as 31 states, including the FCT, had domesticated the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act.
Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen said that the ministry would continue to provide enabling environment to empower every survivor of SGBV while working to curb it.
Tallen said that over 5000 reports of SGBV was recorded from April 2020 till date in just six states.
She said that the ministry was taking necessary steps in collaboration with other stakeholders to expedite action on pending cases towards getting justice for survivors.
She said that the ministry, through collaborative efforts, was able to create 30 operational Sexual Assault Referral Centres across 17 states and established sex offenders registers to deter perpetuators.
Tallen said that 33 states had signed the VAPP Act while 29 states had domesticated the Child Rights Act.
The minister appealed to the governors wives to ensure that all states were brought on-board.
She also urged the governors wives to support more women in governance and politics, in order to increase inclusivity.
The NGWF Chairperson, Bisi Fayemi, said that since the last conference of the forum, there had been some achievements in terms of advocacy to expedite action for the passage of the VAPP law.
“As at November 2021, 31 states including the FCT have passed the VAPP law, this is an indication that the local advocacy of governors wives has been effective.
“There are several other states where their legislation is at advanced stages and we are assured that more states will join over the coming months.
“There was the implementation of NGWF GBV Mitigation Action Plan, increase in number of sexual assault referral centres, as well as shelter for women and girls.
“Provision of empowerment opportunities for women in grassroots, capacity building, production of SGBV resource manual, establishment of GBV survivors fund that enables governors wives respond to GBV cases, among others.’’
She said that the theme for 2021, ‘Orange the World: End violence against women now’, emphasised the urgency required to end gender based violence.
Mrs Fayemi called for adequate funding of all interventions to ensure effective response to the needs of survivors, strategies for prevention, data collection and planning .
“We all need to leverage whatever platforms and competencies we have to make this happen, we hope that this policy dialogue will achieve the following:
“ Provide an opportunity for state governors to discuss what has happened in their states since the declaration of a state of emergency on GBV on June 10, 2020.
“Highlight ways in which governors wives are supporting the fight against GBV and listen to GBV survivors and service providers as they discuss care and protection and access to justice.
“Strengthen partnership, networking and information sharing as part of the global 16 days activism campaign,’’ she said (NAN)
