Stakeholders in Niger State have rejected the settlement of rape cases in palaces, pledging to ensure that perpetrators of sexual and gender-based violence, GBV, are reported to law enforcement agencies for investigation and prosecution.
The resolution was reached at a two-day multi-level dialogue on the adoption and interpretation of GBV policies in Nigeria, organised by Succour Foundation at Haske Luxury Hotel, Minna, where traditional rulers, religious leaders, security agencies, government officials, and women and youth groups committed to strengthening protection for survivors.
The stakeholders maintained that resolving serious offences through informal arrangements could deny survivors access to justice and shield perpetrators from accountability, urging community leaders to uphold lawful procedures in handling reported cases.
Programme Coordinator of Succour Foundation, Mrs Anna Malgwi, said coordinated action among traditional institutions, religious bodies, government agencies and security organisations was essential to ensuring that survivors received the protection and justice they deserved.
Participants resolved to strengthen collaboration among traditional and religious institutions, the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, the Niger State Ministry of Women Affairs and community-based organisations to improve the reporting and handling of GBV cases.
They also committed to challenging the culture of silence surrounding gender-based violence through sustained public sensitisation on survivors’ rights, available reporting channels and existing legal protections.
Traditional rulers, Christians and other religious leaders, alongside women and youth representatives, pledged to take the knowledge gained at the dialogue to their respective communities, churches, mosques and organisations to promote prevention, early reporting and respect for the rights and dignity of vulnerable persons.
The meeting identified stigma, intimidation, fear of retaliation and social pressure as major barriers preventing survivors from reporting abuse, calling for greater confidentiality, protection and access to appropriate support services.
Security agencies reaffirmed their commitment to handling GBV cases professionally and without stigmatising survivors, while representatives of the Ministry of Women Affairs pledged to advocate stronger adoption and implementation of relevant policies across the state and its local government areas.
The stakeholders emphasised that traditional and religious leaders wield considerable influence over community responses to abuse and must use their positions to facilitate access to justice rather than discourage survivors from seeking legal redress.
As part of efforts to translate the resolutions into action, participants agreed to intensify community mobilisation, public education and awareness campaigns in Minna and Suleja, with women’s groups, youth representatives, Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, representatives and traditional rulers expected to lead the initiatives.
They also resolved to use social media platforms to educate the public, publicise accessible reporting channels and mobilise communities against gender-based violence.
Participants further agreed to engage the Ministry of Women Affairs on policy adoption and implementation, while advocating improved documentation and reporting of GBV cases.
They stressed that sustained collaboration among government institutions, security agencies, traditional and religious leaders, and civil society organisations would be critical to ensuring that the resolutions produce tangible results at the grassroots.
The stakeholders maintained that ending gender-based violence required not only effective laws and institutions but also a fundamental shift in community attitudes to ensure that survivors can report abuse without fear of stigma, intimidation or retaliation.
Discover more from NAIRAVOICE.COM.NG
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
