An appeal has been made to the Benue State government to consider the review and full implementation of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law (VAPP) and Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) in the state to enable survivors of sexual and gender-based violence get justice.
The national president, League of Women Voters In Nigeria (NILOWV) Irene Awunah-Ikyegh made the appeal during a one-day enlightenment and sensitisation meeting with media practitioners in Makurdi on the need to amplify the implementation of ACJL and VAPP laws in the state following the alarming cases of SGBVs.
She also called on the state government to revive the Benue State Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) to enable survivors of abuses get first aid treatment and counseling within four hours.
According her, “The media as the watchdog and mirror of the society has all it takes to draw attention of the relevant stakeholders on the need to review the laws and implement it because doing so will help survivors of all forms of assaults to get justice in no distance time.”
She disclosed that from the recent available records Benue State ranks second in SGBVs and child molestation in the country which she said is not good for the image of the state, adding that it is only when the media beam their light on perpetrators that the would- be perpetrators will desist from the dastardly act.
Also, a senior legal officer, Lawyers Alert, Solumtochukwu Ozobulu, in her presentation called for the establishment of a family court which is one of the ways to ensure quick dispensation of justice for SGBVs survivors.
In a remark, the secretary, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Benue State chapter Barr. Joseph Gbagyo informed that 5 to 6 out of 10 girl-child has a story to tell on sexual harassment.
He appealed to the media to join hands in the fight against SGBVs through amplifying of messages that will enable all stakeholders review and implement the VAPP and AJCL in the state to fight against assaults, sexual harassment and child molestation among others.
Earlier, the state chairman of Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, Comrade Elizabeth Achagh, who pledged the support of the media in ensuring that cases of SGBVs are investigated thoroughly and reported, also appealed to journalists to follow up such cases till perpetrators are brought to book to serve as deterrent to others.
