Activists in the fight against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) have said sexual assaults constituted about 98 per cent of human rights violations in Benue State.
The activists, drawn from Spring of Hope for the Girl Child Initiative (SHoGDI), a non-governmental organization, in partnership with the Benue NGOs Network (BENGONET) and Lawyers Alert, have therefore called for the activation of the Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) in Benue to strengthen the fight against SGBV.
The executive director of SHoGDI, Mimidoo Uhundu, spoke while briefing newsmen in Makurdi as part of the activities to sensitize the general public and relevant stakeholders to step up actions against SGBV as this year’s 16 days of activism wraps up.
He lamented that only 13% of sexual assault survivors in Benue State access justice while others were left to live with the wounds, scars and emotional devastation.
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“It is also reported that over 80% cases of sexual assault in Benue State are never reported at all,” she said.
“Often, survivors of SGBV mostly women and girls fail to access justice, medicare, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) therapy, and other forms of required support when in need of such.
“After a protracted engagement with the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Ministry of Justice and Public Order, and other relevant government agencies, the Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) was finally established and commissioned in January 2023 with much fanfare and glamour by the former state governor.
“But nothing is on the ground to facilitate its functionality. There are no equipment, no specialists, support staff and other important resources that can activate the centre to fulfill its need for survivors of SGBV as intended,” she said.
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