The Chairperson of the House of Representatives Press Corps and Vice Chairman, Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in FCT, (NUJ FCT), Comrade Grace Ike, has called for all hands to be on deck in the strife for a society where every individual lives free from the fear of violence and injustice.
Ike spoke in Abuja at the launch of “Tears from the Grave,” a poignant publication by the Men Against Rape Foundation, dedicated to the memory of victims of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV).
She decried the alarming statistics of a recent survey in Nigeria which revealed that 31.4% of sexually active adolescent females and 5.7% of males experienced forced sex (rape) at sexual initiation, including the shocking news that, female adolescents living with HIV are disproportionately affected by this violence.
According to Chairperson Grace, SGBV knows no boundaries as it transcends age, ethnicity, color, socioeconomic status, and geography saying that while the list of victims in Nigeria is extensive, many cases remain unreported owing to fear of stigmatisation and inadequate support systems.
She said: “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.
“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 called on lawmakers at the national and state levels to prioritise the establishment of Sexual Offenses Courts across the country, modeled after successful initiatives in Lagos and other regions noting that despite existing legislation imposing severe penalties for SGBV offenses, prosecution rates remain dismally low.
Ike lamented that normalisation of sexual violence is spreading like wildfire, leaving victims in unimaginable physical and psychological anguish as according to her, every day, we are confronted with distressing accounts of girls and women enduring unspeakable trauma due to sexual violence.
She commended the Men Against Rape Foundation and the organizers of the event for their commitment to shedding light on the harrowing experiences of SGBV victims describing “Tears from the Grave” as a demonstration of collective resolve to confront and eradicate the pervasive issue.
