The African Legal Think Tank on Women’s Rights (ALTOWR) has expressed its support for the demand of a State of Emergency on Gender Based Violence in Nigeria.
The group stated that it condemned in strongest terms the continuous and disturbing rise of systemic violence towards women and children in the Nigeria adding that it is seriously concerned by the absence of a prompt and clear institutional response, along with the conduct of public officials in dealing with such cases.
ALTOWR cited data showing that violence against women and children has pervasively increased during the current novel COVID-19 pandemic, with serious consequences for the victims, the families, the community and the country at large.
“We condemn the horrendous episodes of rape, domestic violence and abuses, and join in solidarity the coalition of Civil Society Organizations calling for the declaration of a State of Emergency on SGBV in Nigeria.
“It is nonetheless concerning the response from the general public, which is confining the cases of rape, abuses and domestic violence as a drastic consequence of the preventive measures undertaken by the Federal Republic of Nigeria to contrast the pandemic.
Cognisant that the lockdown has forced victims to remain isolated with their abusers, as data from service providers have reported a drastic increase of cases, we wish to duly emphasize that the Pandemic has weakened an already enfeebled system attributed to a pervasive culture of impunity, which is unable to properly address violence against women and children, with devastating consequences towards the pre-existing inequalities and vulnerabilities, further affecting the most vulnerable groups, including women and girls with disabilities, in conflict-affected states, refugees and internally displaced,” the group said in a release on Thursday.
ALTOWR posited that the weak system of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is further affected by the societal, cultural and religious response to the cases of violence towards women and children, which often lead to victim-blaming. Such attitudes have led to devastating effects in ensuring access to Justice for the victims, further exacerbated by the political discourse.
It added that survivors are often unable to report cases due to the stigma and fear of discrimination, ensuring that cases of SGBV are grossly underreported.
“We wish to reiterate that the police should not be used in any form or manner as a tool of oppression and power abuse, serving a privileged elite to silence, threaten and intimidate women.
“This repeated high-handedness by the police, instead of thorough investigation further deters survivors of SGBV from reporting their abusers,” the group added.
The group urged state’s prosecutors to ensure that Justice is ensured to the victims of such horrific crimes as it frowned against any attempt and form of mediation.
“The Federal Republic of Nigeria to declare a State of Emergency on SGBV in Nigeria; the States of the Federal Capital Territory to duly engage with Legal Experts, Civil Society Organizations and Activists to define an institutional response to SGBV.
“We urge the States to comprehensively design with Legal Experts an effective judicial response, tailored to the current public health emergency. Furthermore, we urge the States to comprehensively assess and design proper data collection mechanisms,” the group added.
ALTOWR stated that the Nigerian government should initiate a comprehensive assessment of the public officials’ responses on such cases and ensure effective actions, including developing ad-hoc training to the Police Force as well as the domestication of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act and Child Rights Act in all states of the federation.
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