FG pledges to establish special court for SGBV cases

The Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Pauline Tallen, on Thursday, says government will
soon establish a special court that will try Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) cases, aimed at ending the menace.

Tallen said this while addressing a news conference in Abuja to commemorate the 2021 International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, with the theme: “Orange the World, End Violence Against Women Now.”

The Day marks the start of 16 Days of Activism on violence against women and girls, an international campaign
that takes place each year from Nov. 25 to Dec. 10 to raise awareness on the menace.

The minister, who regretted the slow approach to justice against perpetrators of violence against women, said that such violation
was a human rights violation.

She added that “justice delayed is justice denied, our courts should wake up to the realities of prosecuting perpetrators of violence against women and girls.

“We will not rest until perpetrators are brought to book.

“We emphasise on the need for coordinated approach by stakeholders to end GBV against women,” she said.

The minister also explained that because it was the ministry’s determination to amplify the voice of women and girls that it scaled up the domestication of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act to 33 states of the federation.

She called for synergy and emphasised the need to report all manners of violence against women for prompt action.

She identified child marriage as a form of violence against women, saying that the girl-child needed to be educated so that she would know how to take care of herself, her family and people around her.

The Executive Director of UN Population Fund (UNFPA), Dr Natalia Kanem, who is on a four-day official visit to Nigeria, expressed the commitment of the UN to end all forms of violence against women and girls.

Kanem, who described violence against women and girls as a global issue, said that a world of gender equality was the demand of the UN.

She added that “a world of gender equality is what UNFPA strives to deliver by the year 2030.

“I affirm that child marriage is a violence against women and girls.

“I affirm that Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is a violence against women and it is important that the rule of law is enforced through Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act.”

The UN executive director urged all to show love and care to women and girls to make a world that women’s dignity and autonomy was guaranteed possible.

Earlier, the Inspector General of Police, Mr Usman Baba, affirmed the zero tolerance position of the police for Gender-Based Violence.

Baba, who was represented by AIG Aisha Abubakar, said that the police would continue to partner relevant stakeholders in ending all forms of violence against women and girls.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 16 Days of Activism on Violence Against Women and Girls was
originated by activists at the first Women’s Global Leadership Institute in 1991 and this year marks its 30th
anniversary.

NAN also reports that activities have continued to be coordinated by the Centre for Women’s Global Leadership (CWGL)
and used as an organising strategy by individuals, institutions and organisations around the world to call for the prevention and
elimination of violence against women and girls. (NAN)