FCTA Plans More Sexual Assault Referral Centres

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) through the Executive Committee (FCT EXCO) has concluded arrangements to establish more sexual assault referral centres in the nation’s capital.

The arrangement was concluded at the Executive Committee’s meeting which was presided over by the FCT minister, Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello, and was attended by top officials of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).

The FCT director of information and communication, Muhammad Hazat Sule, in a statement he issued yesterday, said the centres are to serve as a shelter home for the survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) across the territory, who have been abused and are experiencing trauma and need to be properly cared for.

 Sule said the FCT Executive Committee while reviewing the presentation by the Social Development Secretariat (SDS) on its activities, programmes and projects, stated that the administration is committed to building more shelter homes for the survivors of sexual and gender-based violence that will accommodate the increasing cases of SGBV across the territory.

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 “The EXCO also directed the Social Development Secretariat to initiate plans for the immediate re-integration of children who are in the various orphanage homes and have grown up as well as activate the FCT Juvenile Correctional Centre.

“The EXCO further directed for the establishment of Mobile Courts to apprehend and try swiftly, cases of Gender Based Violence in order to serve as deterrent and serve justice to the victims.

 “It also advised residents to avoid acts capable of precipitating sexual and gender-based violence.  EXCO re-affirmed the position of the FCT Administration on street begging and other unwholesome practices within the Federal Capital City (FCC) and insisted that it will continue to enforce all laws prohibiting such practices.

“Commending the Social Development Secretariat for the milestone recorded and emerging top out of 15 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA’s) rated by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs in handling cases of Gender Based Violence, the meeting urged the secretariat not to rest on its oars,” he started.