Law enforcement agencies in Sokoto state have been urged to commit to redouble their efforts towards eradicating sexual and gender based violence (SGBV) violence against women and girls (VAWG), harmful practices (HP) and the promotion of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for women and girls.
This was part of the communiqué issued at the end of the capacity building workshop for law enforcement agencies in Sokoto State on prevention and responses to sexual and gender based violence (SGBV), violence against women and girls (VAWG), harmful practices (HP) and the promotion of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) of women and girls which was convened by Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) with the support of the European Union-United Nations Spotlight Initiative held in Sokoto.
Participation was drawn from the Nigeria Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Hisbah Commission and the National Agency for the Prevention of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).
The communiqué jointly signed by the organisers said inter-agency collaboration will be encouraged and strengthened especially a platform for information sharing and exchange.
Participants resolved to commit to the development of a Common Law Enforcement Standard Operating Procedure on SGBV/VAWG/HP as well as specific gender policies for different law enforcement agencies.
“Law enforcement agencies commit to provide information for the publication of details of offenders in the sexual offenders register.
“The Nigeria Police, NSCDC, Hisbah Commission Gender Units should be adequately resourced with financial resources, capacity building for its key personnel and logistics support for its operations. Furthermore, NAPTIP and the SGBV Response Team should also be adequately funded.
“Commit to advocacy for the establishment of a One Stop Centre responding to SGBV/VAWG and HP with multiple competencies (free toll emergency lines, legal, medical, investigation, psychosocial support, shelter, rehabilitation, etc.) in Sokoto state.
“Commit to advocacy for the establishment of a special court to expeditiously try cases of SGBV/VAWG/HP and the denial of the SRHR of women and girls. This could be done not necessarily by legislation but by the Chief Judge of Sokoto State assigning SGBV cases to designated courts and reducing the caseload of these courts, so that they have more time to focus attention on SGBV cases.
“Commit to engage other stakeholders in the struggle againstSGBV/VAWG/HP and promotion of SRHR. These stakeholders include the legal and medical professions, counsellors, women’s rights groups and associations, civil society organisations, religious and traditional institutions, etc.
“Commit to the dissemination of information on the evidence, requirements and issues that need to be put together to prove rape and other SGBV.
“Commit to the full and strict implementation of the Penal Code Law that 18 years is the age of majority and informed consent and anyone below the age of 18 is deemed to be a child by law. Sex with any person under the age of 18 is to be vigorously prosecuted,” the meeting stated.
