The Chairman of the House of Representatives Press Corps, Comrade Grace Ike, has appealed to lawmakers at the national and state levels to prioritize the establishment of sexual offences courts across the country in a bid to tackle the menace of sexual abuse in the country.
Ike, who suggested that they be modelled after successful initiatives in Lagos and other regions, said this at the unveiling of a book “Tears from the Grave” written by Lemmy Ugbegbe, another journalist and organized by Men Against Rape Foundation.
The journalist, who is also the Vice Chairman of the Correspondents Chapel of the Federal Capital Territory Chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, said the book is a collection of poems on sexual and gender-based violence in memory of Keren-Happuch Aondodoo Akpagher and several other victims aimed at creating awareness on comprehensively tackling the vice in the society.
Ike commended the Men Against Rape Foundation and the organizers of this event for their commitment to shedding light on the harrowing experiences of SGBV victims.
However, she expressed worry over the alarming statistics on sexual abuse and urged that all hands be on deck to ensure that the problem is addressed.
“The statistics are alarming—a recent survey in Nigeria revealed that 31.4% of sexually active adolescent females and 5.7% of males experienced forced sex (rape) at sexual initiation.
“Shockingly, female adolescents living with HIV are disproportionately affected by this violence.
“The normalization of sexual violence is spreading like wildfire, leaving victims in unimaginable physical and psychological anguish.
“What’s even more disturbing is the growing trend of perpetrators committing murder, killing their victims after these heinous acts—an act that must be condemned in the strongest terms. ”
“While the list of victims in Nigeria is extensive, many cases remain unreported due to fear of stigma and inadequate support systems.
“Despite existing legislation imposing severe penalties for SGBV offences, prosecution rates remain dismally low. Victims often shy away from reporting due to fear of stigma and the arduous legal process.
“I am particularly troubled by the absence of a government-funded compensation scheme for victims of sexual and violent crimes in Nigeria. This is a critical gap that demands urgent attention from our policymakers.
“Furthermore, civil society organizations such as the Men Against Rape Foundation play a pivotal role in advocating for the rights of SGBV victims and ensuring they receive the justice and support they deserve,” she said
She expressed deep appreciation to Mr. Lemmy Ugegbe and the dedicated team at the Men Against Rape Foundation for not just coming up with this initiative but for their relentless pursuit of justice.
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