The State Coordinator, National Human Rights Commission, Kaduna State, Terngu Gwar, says 80% of complaints received by the Commission on Gender-based Violence is against women.
He noted that Violence against women and girls, such as rape, child abandonment, Inheritance denial, are not left out in the way they are reported.
Gwar stated this why fielding questions from journalists at the flag-off of the International Day on Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls and the beginning of 16 days of activism.
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The day marked each year from 25th to 10th of December is set aside internationally to raise awareness on the Violence against women and girls and promote human rights of women and girls while also advocating and energizing action towards the end of Violence against women and promoting human rights culture for sixteen days simultaneously.
He explained that since the declaration of Covid-19 as a pandemic, cases of reports in Kaduna state received by the Commission In 2021, 80% of the cases are primarily on Domestic Violence on women, even though there are other various forms of Violence against women and girls.
“Women and girls experience various forms of Violence notwithstanding the provision of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, pledging to protect, promote and enforce the rights of all, including women and girls, the passage of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, and the fact that Nigeria is a party to the International Human Rights Treaties, including but not limited to CEDAW, the Maputo Protocol for the Protection of the Rights of Women in Africa.
“Despite these proclamations aimed at ensuring equality by protecting the rights of women and girls, women and girls everywhere still face more significant obstacles to claiming and enjoying their rights than their male counterparts, particularly since the declaration of Covid-19 as a pandemic.
“We are disturbed here in Kaduna over issues of Sexual and gender-based violence, like Rape; Domestic Violence, Child Abandonment, issues of inheritances, were women are denied of their inheritance because they are women, these are the issues, and in Kaduna state, over 80% of the issues received so far in this year is Domestic Violence, we have seen issues of domestic violence on the increase every day, and like I said, we received every day, week in week out has been on domestic violence, and the commission is concerned about”, he said.
He noted that Violence against women and girls is a human rights violation that impacts on and impedes progress in many areas of their lives.
Gwar noted that these violations are perpetrated with impunity as few violators, if any, are held accountable for the violations or abuse.
“Survivors of SGBV fear to report the alleged perpetrators of SGBV to law enforcement agencies because in most cases they are families, neighbours, or persons who may engage in reprisals. Other concerns include social stigmatization from the community members and pressures from the family to drop the charges. Where the cases are reported to the law enforcement, they are reluctant to conduct the investigations or blame the survivors for the acts perpetrated against them, thus forcing survivors to “settle the matter out of court” or ”within families”. The perpetrator is not adequately punished for the crime.”
While commending the efforts of the Kaduna State Government for signing the Child Protection and Violence Against Persons Prohibitions Bills into law, and establishment of Sexual & Assault Referral Centres, the Commission, however, reiterated that the Government should effectively implement the VAPP and Child Protection laws to curb the spread of SGBV.
“Government should also put in place programs for prevention, protection and provision of services to those vulnerable groups affected or impacted by Rape and SGBV”.
“Strengthen institutions such as the police and the Judiciary tasked with the provision of these services and provides accessible essential services to survivors as well as ensures accelerated disposal of cases on Rape and SGBV.
“Government and all relevant stakeholders should equally look into certain harmful traditional practices that infringe on the rights of women and girls by placing the female gender in a subordinate position to the male and thereby making her more vulnerable to Rape and SGBV”.
Also speaking at the occasion, Commissioner for Human Services and Social Development, Hajiya Hafsat Mohammed Baba said Gender-based Violence, just like Covid-19, is a Pandemic, noting that it is severe which needs proactive action.
Therefore, the Commissioner, who Maryam Muazu represented, called for collective efforts by everyone to fight the menace by creating more awareness and education for the public.
“We want to eliminate all forms of Violence against Women and Girls, and we call on Civil Society Organizations, Human Rights, and every other person needs to put heads together so that we can educate people. Education and Awareness creation on Violence against women has made an impact.”
If you see data going up, it is because of the culture of silence. Still, because of the awareness that we are creating, it has gone down, people are coming out now to report cases, and we can manage it at our various Sexual Assault and Referral centres”.
She said the Government is committed to the right of its citizenry, saying it is the reason for the creation of the Ministry of Human Services and Social Development.
“Our target population and mandate of that ministry is putting human beings first, and that is why the ministry of human services and covers every aspect of human endeavours, that is, the humanitarian services. We are concerned with women, children, and vulnerable people including people living with disabilities to ensure that they are inclusive in governance”.
