Gender-based violence: Osinbajo, others want effective justice system

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said the sexual assaults referral centres (SARCs) are critical and serving the mandate they were set up for as people have started reporting their experiences.

He said this showed that the provision of effective justice for victims would go a long way to stem the cases of gender-based violence, especially against women and children.

Professor Osinbajo, spoke via zoom in Abuja at the 6th SARCs and International Human Rights Day, organised by Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (ROLAC) Programme of the British Council and the European Union (EU).

Osinbajo said this could mean an increase in trust and belief, and that appropriate investigative actions would be taken.

Speaking earlier, the national programme manager, ROLAC Programme of the British Council, Mr. Danladi Plang, called for an effective justice system to curb the menace of the rising rape and sexual assaults in the country.

In the same vein, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has called for the direct involvement of religious and traditional leaders to tackle the rising cases of rape and other forms of violence against women in the country.

This is contained in the communique of the official launch of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence in Nigeria, which began on November 25 and organised by the association and the All-Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) on Thursday in Abuja.

“Political, religious leaders and all stakeholders should be more involved in addressing the needs of women and child survivors, including interventions to disrupt the gender-based violence cycle,” the communique signed by president of CAN, Dr Samson Ayokunle and other committee members stated.