NO, MEANS NO: FG TO PROSECUTE RAPE, GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE OFFENDERS
By: Nneka Oduada Eze Esq.
As a direct consequence of the increasing report of rape from all angles of the country, the federal government has vowed to deal decisively with the perpetrators of this offence and other gender-based violence in the country. The Vice President of Nigeria, through his representative, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, made this known in Abuja at the official launch of USAID’s Momentum Country and Global Leadership.
According to the minister, Nigerians are more than ever, convinced that gender-based violence is driven by structural inequalities and unequal power relations that render women subordinate to men due to limited access to education, employment, finances, healthcare and opportunities to contribute to their families, communities and the nation’s economic growth. The Inspector-General of Police was given a mandate to deal with all perpetrators further to the declaration of Zero tolerance to Rape and other gender-based violence as well as constant engagement with the Police on the need to promptly address issues of gender based violence
Furthermore, survivors of gender-based violence were appealed to, in other to collaborate and ensure that they have access to safe, confidential and professional medical care and access to life-saving support that will prevent further violence from occurring.
While there is the need to united in the struggle to work together to ensure a safer society for women, girls and the vulnerable in society, the declaration of zero tolerance to rape and other forms of gender-based violence, including harmful traditional practices are a giant stride and a step in the right direction in fighting gender based violence in the country. This declaration by the federal government in line with existing instrumentalities of the law, is a step in the right direction in fighting rape in the country. Nigeria has always and will continue to boldly and openly condemn Gender-Based Violence for its continuous negative impact on survivors, victims, families, broader society and economies of nations.