The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) has called for the urgent establishment of a special court to expedite the handling of gender-based violence cases.
The organisation said such courts would significantly address delays in justice and curb the increasing violence against women and children.
Bilkisu Ibrahim Sulaiman, the chairperson of FIDA, Kano State branch, made this appeal during the FIDA National Conference in Kano, themed, “Ensuring Access to Justice for Indigent Women and Children in Nigeria.”
He said, “Due to the rigorous procedures of our legal system, families of survivors find it difficult to support their children and ensure that justice is served.
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“There is a need for the government to establish a court specifically for these issues or upgrade existing magistrate courts to prosecute and convict the accused accordingly.”
She reiterated FIDA’s commitment to providing free legal representation for indigent women and children to ensure they live free from all forms of discrimination, violence and abuse.
The Kano State chief judge, Justice Dije Abdu Aboki, noted that efforts were underway to ensure the timely dispensation of such cases, which is crucial for maintaining public confidence in the judicial system.
She urged FIDA members to remain steadfast in their mission to provide a voice for the voiceless.
The attorney-general of Kano State, Isah Dederi, expressed the state’s commitment to exploring initiatives that bridge the gap in legal access for indigent women and children.
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