The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, says the Federal Government is engaging with heads of courts for establishment of specialised courts for speedy and seamless trials of rape and gender-based violence.
The Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative on Wednesday, in an organised rally with the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, stormed the Ministry of Justice in protest against rising cases of rape and violence against women and girls.
The group urged the Federal Government of Nigeria to speed up with the time of prosecuting perpetrators.
Speaking at the rally, Secretary-General, WRAPA, Saudatu Mahdi, said rape cases should be speedily prosecuted so that victims could get justice and perpetrators could be punished to serve as a deterrent to others.
During a walk against rape and sexual gender-based violence by the National Human Rights Commission in Abuja on Wednesday, Malami said the proposed special courts would ensure timely and speedy trials of all pending and incoming rape and other related cases and facilitate.
The minister, represented by the Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dayo Akpata, said his office had commenced the review of all existing laws and policy instrument relating to offences of rape, child molestation and gender-based violation.
NHRC Executive Secretary Tony Ojukwu urged government at all levels to put in place laws, policies and programmes aimed at addressing and eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls, children, persons with disabilities and men.
Earlier yesterday while receiving the leadership of the NHRC, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said the government would launch a national campaign against rape and gender-based violence in the country.
He said the campaign, which would include advocacy, public sensitization and social mobilization, would ensure that Nigerians own the fight against the “abhorrent and repulsive criminal acts.”
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