By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja
The Federal Government has reassured its commitment to put to end the Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV), emphasizing on the fact that the scourge has become a disheartening phenomenon.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN noted that the FG will continue to prohibit violence in private and public life by providing maximum protection.
The AGF promised an effective prosecution of cases via the judiciary and other prosecutorial authorities to put an end to SGBV.
Malami made this known, yesterday, at a capacity building for judges on sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) held in Abuja.
Other speakers at the occasion are the UN resident and humanitarian coordinator, Nigeria, Mr Matthias Schmale and EU Ambassador to Nigeria, Ms Samuela Isopi who was represented by the Deputy Head of EU, Mission, Mr Alexandre Gomes.
In a keynote address he gave at a workshop on use of practice direction and guidelines on trial of sexual and gender – based violence cases and ancillary procedure, he pledged the government continuous support to stem the prevalence.
Speaking further, the AGF said, “Government can no longer tolerate a situation where we would be recording 1,342 SGBV cases, which for me is a big issue.
“Out of concern and need to curb the trend, we have on ground far reaching policy, institutional and legislative interventions,”
In her opening remarks, the Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, Mrs Beatrice Jedy-Agba noted that her ministry has taken a number of initiatives including prosecution and capacity building to stem the emerging trend of SGBV.
Also speaking, the Director General National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, (NAPTIP), Dr. Fatima Waziri described the SGBV menace in Nigeria as extremely disturbing, asking for the supports of judges in the area of access and prompt dispensation of justice.
She then assured that the agency has put mechanism in place, saying response protection officers are now being deployed in the six area councils in Abuja.
Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen, in her opinion, called for domestication of the Child Rights Act and other violence laws against women by all the states of the federation.
Concluding, she commended the federal government for playing a strategic role.
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