Comrade Grace Ike, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Press Corps, has called upon lawmakers at both the national and state levels to prioritize the establishment of sexual offences courts nationwide as a crucial step in combating the scourge of sexual abuse in the country.
Ike, suggesting that these courts be modelled after successful initiatives in Lagos and other regions, made this appeal during the unveiling of the book “Tears from the Grave” authored by Lemmy Ugbegbe, a fellow journalist. The event was organized by the Men Against Rape Foundation.
As the Vice Chairman of the Correspondents Chapel of the Federal Capital Territory Chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Ike emphasized that the book serves as a collection of poems addressing sexual and gender-based violence in memory of Keren-Happuch Aondodoo Akpagher and numerous other victims. Its purpose is to raise awareness and advocate for a comprehensive approach to combating this vice in society.
While commending the Men Against Rape Foundation and the event organizers for their dedication to shedding light on the traumatic experiences of SGBV victims, Ike expressed concern over the alarming statistics regarding sexual abuse. She urged collective efforts to address this pressing issue.
“The statistics are alarming—a recent survey in Nigeria revealed that 31.4% of sexually active adolescent females and 5.7% of males experienced forced sex (rape) at sexual initiation.
“Shockingly, female adolescents living with HIV are disproportionately affected by this violence.
“The normalization of sexual violence is spreading like wildfire, leaving victims in unimaginable physical and psychological anguish.
“What’s even more disturbing is the growing trend of perpetrators committing murder, killing their victims after these heinous acts—an act that must be condemned in the strongest terms. ”
“While the list of victims in Nigeria is extensive, many cases remain unreported due to fear of stigma and inadequate support systems.
“Despite existing legislation imposing severe penalties for SGBV offences, prosecution rates remain dismally low. Victims often shy away from reporting due to fear of stigma and the arduous legal process.
“I am particularly troubled by the absence of a government-funded compensation scheme for victims of sexual and violent crimes in Nigeria. This is a critical gap that demands urgent attention from our policymakers.
“Furthermore, civil society organizations such as the Men Against Rape Foundation play a pivotal role in advocating for the rights of SGBV victims and ensuring they receive the justice and support they deserve,” she said
She expressed deep appreciation to Mr. Lemmy Ugegbe and the dedicated team at the Men Against Rape Foundation for not just coming up with this initiative but for their relentless pursuit of justice.
