As part of efforts to curb the menace of gender based violence across the state, the Niger state government has called on civil society organizations, media and security agencies for partnership.
Speaking to Journalists on the Sexual Exploitation And Sexual Abuse/Sexual Harassments (SEAH), Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, Niger state Ministry of Women Affairs, Mrs. Mary Yisa said the State now has robust legal, policy and institutional frameworks for addressing Gender Based Violence (GBV).
It should be recalled that, the state government had declared two weeks ago that any person who batters his or her spouse is liable to conviction to a term of three years imprisonment with option of N200,000 as fine.
According to her “the State has robust legal, policy and institutional frameworks for addressing GBV and they include the Violence Against Person Prohibited Law and Child Right Act, penal code, section 34 of the constitution Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“The prevention and response to risks of SEAH will require intensive and multi-layered efforts bringing together many sectors including Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) such as health facilities, SEAH service providers.
“Others are caregivers such as civil society organizations (CSOs), Child Rights Agency, Network Against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labour NNACTA, National Human Rights, Nigeria Civil Defense Corps, the Media and the Police.”
While appealing, Mrs. Yisa disclosed that concerted efforts including community awareness and education, capacity building for project staff in SEAH and employment of SEAH experts is already in place.
Accordingly, she said “we are adequately resourcing the SEAH function in the project and enlisting the supplementary support of other SEAH Prevention and Response actors such as health providers, CSOs, Community based Organizations (CBOs), and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs).”
“We appeal to you to help us modify it that, husbands that rape their wives get charged with lesser offences, including indecent assault with mere maximum punishment of 3 years imprisonment.
“Since 2015, the once exclusive definition and punishment of rape has changed owing to a new law enacted by the National Assembly, titled; the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015. Under this 2015 law, rape is an intentional penetration of the vagina, anus or mouth of any person with any part of the body or anything and without the consent of the person being penetrated.”
