Rape Cases On The Increase In Nigeria - ActionAid

...Says The Poor Are More Vulnerable

by Gift Olivia Samuel

Abuja - In a bid to end gender based violence and create safe cities for women in the country, ActionAid Nigeria on Monday declared that the rate of rape cases across the spectrum in Nigeria are on the increase.

This as it also asserted that the lack of access to public services as well as the power to protect themselves, make the poor more vulnerable to move around the city for work and education.

Deputy Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, Mrs. Ifeoma Charles-Monwuba, who announced these in Abuja at the Safe Cities Campaign for Women, stated that the poor are more vulnerable in the violence against women and girls in public spaces.

She expressed anger that people blame the victims of rape and other abuses, rather than addressing the situation at hand, adding that the law enforcement agencies would rather play the blame game on the victims than take action.

While calling on the National universities Commission (NUC), to put sexual harassment policy in place, she emphasized the need for Nigerian universities to create a safe city by having hostels inside the campus, light, security and adequate water supply as well as transportation and other infrastructure to keep the girls safe.

According to her; “Most of the times when these violence happens, nobody follows through to be sure that the victim is taken through and supported to obtain justice. It is important that the media and the National Universities Commission (NUC), understand what these girls are going through and within their mandate as NUC do whatever is possible to make sure that this issue is addressed.”

She however called for the strengthening of reporting and justice mechanism to help bring the perpetrators to book and deter others from towing the same path.

On his part, the Chairman of Development Partners Group on Gender (DPGG), DR. Gregory Osubor stressed that girls and women must as a matter of priority be involved in every stage of development.

Osubor stressed that for Nigeria to attain her developmental goals, women must be taken seriously, emphasizing the need to tackle all hindrances to a conducive education for the girl child.

Source: Per Second News