FG moves against molesters of school children

Federal Government, yesterday, inaugurated a committee for prosecution of child-related gender-based offenders across Nigerian schools.  The panel is to chart a comprehensive legal pathway for trial of perpetrators of School-Related Gender-Based Violence (SRGBV) in the country.

Solicitor-General of the Federation (SGF) and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, Beatrice Jedy-Agba, while unveiling the body, stressed that children have rights to be protected against all forms of violence, be it at home or in school. 

She said the committee is, therefore, tasked to develop a standard operating procedure (SOP) as working tool to guide basic education stakeholders in responding to cases of SRGBV nationwide.

Jeddy-Agba submitted that the SRGBV Committee would liaise with the SGBV Response Unit to facilitate existence of the policy geared at ensuring swift responses to these cases in schools. 

The SGF called on members of the committee, selected from diverse agencies, to undertake the task with utmost patriotism and provide a safe space for Nigerian children in learning institutions.

She said: “The opportunity this offers is critical. It is the result of the vision, will and commitment to create a safe space for our children and Nigeria. I hereby formally inaugurate a committee for the creation of a legal pathway for the development of an SOP for the prosecution of perpetrators of SRGBV.”

The ministry partnered its sister Education Ministry and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in raising the panel.