Pulse.ng : September 2023

By Sani Idris

The Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) Justice Network, has advocated a state-run toll-free hotlines for accessing SGBV service providers in Kaduna.

Mrs Rebecca Sako-John, a Trustee of Legal Awareness for Nigerian Women (LANW), made the call at a roundtable dialogue on Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) and Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law (VAPPL) implementation in Kaduna.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the dialogue, organised by SGBV Justice Network Cluster, was funded by USAID Strengthening Civic Advocacy and Local Engagement (SCALE) project.

Sako-John, said the hotlines would enable people to access service providers, especially social workers, to report incidents of SGBV.

She added that the ideal was to have the toll-free hotlines which people could call anytime to send in complaints or reports where they would be advised who to see and where to go, to quickly solve the problem

She said doing so amounted to bringing service to the door step of the people.

“With the toll-free hotlines, one can easily report, get advice or counseling,” she said.

“The state may however have the toll-free hotlines, but people may not be aware of thier existence; the hotlines are very important.

“It will aid quick access to service and therefore, reduce pressure on victims or even avert the violence,” she added.

Also emphasising the need for provision of forensic laboratory in Kaduna State, Sako-John said it was also very critical in ensuring quick justice for victims of SGBV.

She recalled that the previous administration of Kaduna State budgeted for the provision of the forensic laboratory, adding that equipment were readily available at that time and awaiting structure.

She, therefore, called on the Kaduna State Government to ensure readiness of the laboratory, to help fast track cases of rape, denial of parternity, assault, healthy wellbeing, among others.

Also, Mr Terngu Gwar, the State Coordinator of National Human Rights Comission, said the issues of SGBV were a top mandate of the commission.

He lamented that they received complaints of SGBV on daily basis, adding that 95 per cent of them were related to the SGBV.

Gwar added that the issues were worrisome, stressing that it was high time to take decisive stands to end violence against women and children in the society.

He, however, noted that the comission had recorded substantive success, especially in getting justice for child abandonment and pushing for husbands to take responsibilities in catering for the welfare and development of their children.

“We noticed that alot of the problems are resulting from misunderstanding and people don’t know what their responsibilities are.

“By the time we call the parties together and lay out position of the law concerning SGBV as a state crime, some of them begin reconsidering their steps and going back to do the needful,” Gwar said.

Similarly, the Head, Special Investigations and Prosecution Unit of Kaduna Ministry of Justice, Mrs Ayiku Thomas, said they usually advise especially the police, on wether cases of SGBV are prima facie on arrested persons or not.

She added that the issue of First Information Repost (FIR) raised by the Police, which turned out to have facts, the ministry usually advised and charged them to court.

Thomas however, lamented on the challenges of securing witnesses to testify before courts.

In addressing the challenge, she said they sensitised the public, especially at the local levels and engage in partnership with CSOs and NGOs.

“If they can report, why can’t they come and give evidence,”she wondered.

Earlier, Mrs Hanatu Ahuwan, the Acting Executive Director of LANW, said the project sought to consolidate its advocacy efforts for more efficient implementation of the VAPPL and ACJL of Bauchi, Benue, Enugu, Kaduna, and Osun states.

She noted that the aim was to achieve speedy justice service delivery and resolution SGBV cases.

“Legal Awareness for Nigerian Women represents the cluster in Kaduna State.”

She explained that SGBV Justice Network Cluster aimed to support the acceleration of best practices amongst the various committees in the discharge of their mandate.

Ahuwan, therefore, said the shared learning event was to ensure the effectiveness of the Iaws and improved justice outcomes for survivors of abuse.

Participants at the event cut across Correctional Service, NSCDC, Nigerian Bar Association, National Association of Women Journalists, among others.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)