Amina asserted that situations of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) necessitate particular consideration and a novel trial methodology to foster the willingness of victims to come forward and report individuals who are infringing upon the rights of others.
During the weekend, she made mention of the work undertaken by the Foundation in collaboration with USAID and Palladium.
According to her statement, Bauchi State witnessed the documentation of more than 500 instances of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in the preceding year. Additionally, a significant number of rape cases, exceeding 100, were recorded, with the local government areas of Toro, Alkaleri, and Katagum exhibiting the highest incidence rates.
In reference to the subject of "Strengthening the Advocacy for Justice Delivery for Survivors of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in Nigeria," she further emphasized the need for the establishment of a dedicated court specifically designed to handle SGBV cases, with a primary focus on expediting the resolution of such matters. This will facilitate expeditious dispensation of justice.
“Also, we want the court to fix a special time for rape cases. The hearing may take place during the early morning or late afternoon, when there are no concurrent cases scheduled. During our interactions with survivors, it has been seen that they often experience feelings of shame when required to testify in court amidst a large gathering of individuals. Individuals are often identified as survivors of sexual assault, which contributes to the perpetuation of social stigma.
We have actively sought the cooperation of court personnel in order to ensure the safety and well-being of survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) during their court appearances. The recently enacted legislation, known as the Violence Against Person Prohibition (VAPP) law, provides measures to ensure the protection of victims. This implies that all manifestations of their identity, including those documented in their file, have the potential to be pseudonymous.
Additionally, she stated that both law enforcement agencies and the media are legally barred from disclosing the identities of anybody involved in the incident, including any descriptive information that may potentially identify the identities of the victims.
In December 2022, the state of Bauchi implemented the VAPP Law, which aims to safeguard individuals from all types of violence and victimization. The convicted rapist is sentenced to life imprisonment, while the individual who committed rape against a minor is sentenced to capital punishment by means of hanging.
