From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
SGBV Justice Network (SJN), has called for a concerted effort of stakeholders in Benue state to address the limited access to justice available to survivors of Sexual Gender Based Violence, (SGBV), victim and survivors.
SJN said there was need to review the Violence Against Persons Prohibition, (VAPP) laws and ensure full implementation of VAPP and Administration of Criminal Justice, (ACJ) Laws to provide justice for survivors and punishment for perpetrators in line with provision of the Laws.
The network made this call during a Multi-Stakeholders meeting on Access to Justice for SGBV Survivors, organized by SGBV Justice Network Cluster with support from USAID SCALE Project.
In her remarks, the National President, Nigeria League of Women Voters, (NILOWV), Irene Awunah, representing the SJN cluster, lamented that survivors hardly get the required justice owing to non-functional Sexual Assault Referral Center, (SARC), ineffective implementation of the VAPP and ACJL, unavailability of a gender department at the Ministry of Justice, absence of a budget line for both VAPP and ACJL, delay in review of the VAPP, unavailability of specific courts and or family courts to try SGBV cases among others.
She said in addition, the cluster is also advocating for expansion of the jurisdiction of Magistrates to try rape cases for speedy justice delivery as well as the designation of a special or family courts to try SGBV cases only.
She explained that such would provide survivors with the needed privacy and confidence to open up on their cases.
The cluster said it was necessary to operationalize the Sexual Assault Referral Centres, (SARCs) in the state for survivors of SGBV to have increased and coordinated access to relevant services.
They also called on the state Governments to provide a budget line, deploy adequate personnel and equipment to SARCs for effective service delivery.
They also appealed to the Private Sector to support SARCs with materials such as equipment and other aspects, apart from financial support, as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
Earlier, facilitating the sessions, the Senior Legal Advisor of Lawyers Alert, Victor Eboh, and stakeholders identified local impediments to access to justice for SGBV survivors including stigmatization, victims blaming, lack of awareness and education, legal loopholes, geographical barriers, under reporting and fear of victimization or retaliation, religion among others.
The cluster called on stakeholders and relevant government authorities to do their bits in the fight against SGBV to ensure that victims and survivors especially, People with Disabilities, (PWDs) get the justice they deserve.
Flowing from the gaps and solutions suggested by participants, the Permanent Secretary of Women Affairs, Representative of the Attorney General, Representative of NBA and Human Rights Commission in the State all made their commitments to ensure that survivors get justice.
SGBV Justice Network (SJN), is a 7 – member Organisations’ Cluster facilitated by Palladium through the USAID’s funded Strengthening Civic Advocacy and Local Engagement (SCALE) project led by Lawyers Alert.
Other members of the cluster are Nigeria League of Women Voters, (NILOWV), National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Ikra Foundation for Women and Youth Development, Community Advancement Initiative for Self-Reliance, Legal Awareness for Nigerian Women and Agbani Farm Limited.
The cluster is implementing a project titled “Consolidating Advocacy for Effective Justice Delivery for Survivors of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, (SGBV) in Nigeria”.
The project seeks to consolidate already existing partnerships to deepen ongoing advocacy efforts for a more efficient implementation of the VAPP and ACJ laws in Bauchi, Benue, Enugu, Kaduna, and Osun to achieve speedy justice service delivery for survivors and victims of SGBV and the resolution of SGBV cases.
The dialogue meeting is part of the 16 Days of Activism, that is celebrated worldwide from November 25 to December 10, which presents a great opportunity for stakeholders to galvanize action to end violence against women and girls around the world through increasing access to justice for survivors.