The Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF, has declared a state of emergency on gender-based and sexual form of violence.
This development is following the recent surge in rape cases across the country and public condemnation of sexual abuse and a call for severe punishment for sexual offenders.
The declaration was made at the 10th Covid19 teleconference meeting of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF)
In a communique issued at the end of the meeting , the Governors condemned sexual and gender-based violence, saying they were committed to ensuring justice was served.
It also called on its members yet to implement laws against sexual and gender-based violence to do so in order to reduce the spate of rape in the country. The governors also called on commissioners of police in their states to provide detailed report on the actions taken to strengthen their responses to rape cases reported to them.
The communique reads below;
“Governors have agreed to declare a State of Emergency on Sexual and Gender-based Violence. Governors strongly condemned all forms of violence against women and children and committed to ensuring that offenders face the maximum weight of the law.
“Call on state governors that have not already domesticated relevant gender-based protection laws to domesticate the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, the Child Rights Act and the updated Penal Code to increase protection for women and children and ensure speedy investigation and prosecution of perpetrators in addition to creating a sex offenders register in each State to name and shame;
“Invite the Commissioners of Police to provide a detailed report on the actions taken to strengthen their response to sexual and gender-based violence through the Family Support Units and Force Gender Units at the state and local government levels;
“Governors will commit additional funding for the prevention and response to sexual and gender-based violence through appropriate Ministries, Departments and Agencies;
“Endorse the Communique of the meeting of the First Ladies in Nigeria which held on 7th June 2020 to evaluate and mobilize action to check the alarming rate of sexual violence against women and girls and indeed all forms of violence against women.”
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