The Sexual and Gender Based Violence Justice Network (SJN) Cluster in Benue State has passionately appealed to corporate organisations and owners of business outfits to assist in providing much-needed resources to support the operation of Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to the society.
The SJN Project Lead, Barr. Solumtochukwu Ozobulu who is leading this advocacy, made this appeal during an advocacy and sensitisation visit to the management of DeFudi, one of the leading fast-food restaurants in Makurdi, Benue State.
Solumtochukwu Ozobulu, Lead, SJN Cluster
Stressing the fierce urgency of the support for such a life-saving and noble cause, Barr. Ozobulu stressed the need for individuals and bodies in the society to support the smooth and uninterrupted operation of SARCs to ensure provision of all necessary medical, legal, psychosocial, shelter and other forms of support which survivors and victims of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) are in dire need of.
Responding, the management of De Fudi expressed willingness to support survivors of domestic abuse and SGBV with skills acquisition training that would give them the necessary financial and economic basis as well as boost their employability status either working for others or themselves.
The SJN Cluster, led by Lawyers Alert Nigeria, has been in the vanguard of advocacy for the establishment and operationalization of SARCs and the current drive aims at encouraging corporate organisations to shift their CSR focus to give back to the society by providing succour and support to vulnerable and broken survivors of SGBV in dire need of a lifeline to bounce back from the torture and trauma of the scourge of SGBV.
Relevant stakeholders from government ministries, agencies and associations have pledged to uphold the community-led solutions proposed by various participants at a multi-stakeholders meeting on easy access to justice for survivors of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV).
The stakeholders made this commitment during a one-day dialogue meeting which held in Makurdi, Benue State organised by the SGBV Justice Network Cluster with support from the USAID-SCALE Project.
While the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Mrs. Joy Adole who represented the Commissioner in the Ministry, promised that allocation of special fund would be included in the Ministry’s new budget line for survivors and victims of SGBV, the Ministry of Justice keyed into the all-important review of the Benue State Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law 2019.
Earlier making a presentation, human rights activist and Senior Legal Advisor at Lawyers Alert Nigeria, Barr. Victor Eboh, beamed spotlight on impediments to accessing justice in Benue State which he noted included Stigma and Social Norms such as victim blaming, Lack of Awareness and Education due to low literacy rates and limited awareness, as well as Inadequate Legal Framework characterised by weak legal protections and legal loopholes: which could be exploited, allowing perpetrators to escape accountability (buttressing his assertion with Section 283(1) Penal Code of Benue State vis-à-vis Section 31 (1), 2, 3 Child Rights Act).
Other impediments he noted included Corruption and Impunity, Under-Reporting and Fear of Retaliation, Insufficient Support Services such as lack of counselling and inadequate shelter such as the well-secured witness protection scheme in the United States of America.
Participants on their part added that religion hinders, inadequate training for advocates of SGBV, shielding of perpetrators and the notorious Suspect Swap Syndrome (SSS) constitute palpable impediments clogging the wheel of access to justice for SGBV survivors and victims.
Making his input, Chairman of the network, BENGONET Rural Initiative, Mr. Lazarus Mom advocated that the private sector and donor agencies be lobbied to channel their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) resources to fund operationalization of the existing Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC).
He pointed out the high prevalence of SGBV in the State with the most vulnerable people in the society being at the receiving end. Mom asserted that “helping victims and survivors to access justice is the summary of all advocacy on SGBV” and therefore, stressed the urgent need to swiftly activate and operationalise the existing SARC to rescue victims and survivors.
He said the SARC would be a One-Stop Shop providing free medical, legal and psychosocial support, economic and safe shelter services to survivors and victims including gathering of much-needed evidence for prosecution the absence of which could bungle a case like the heart-rending case of the late 13-year-old Elizabeth Ochanya Ogbanje where the main accused was let off the hook due to lack of “sufficient evidence” to prove her case beyond reasonable doubt.
The SJN Cluster is in the vanguard of advocacy for measures that would ensure that perpetrators of SGBV are served justice while survivors and victims get due justice and succour.
Nigeria Strengthening Civic Advocacy and Local Engagement – Nigeria SCALE League of Women Voters of Nigeria League of Women Voters Nigeria Nilowv BENUE Lawyers Alert Nigeria
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