RoLAC seeks special courts for SGBV cases in Nigeria

The Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) has urged the Federal Government to establish courts for Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) cases in Nigeria.

RoLAC programme officer, Hannatu Essien made the call in Abuja, while addressing journalists as part of activities to mark 2021 16 days’ activism against Gender Based Violence (GBV).

The call was part of the collaboration between federal ministry of justice, FCT judiciary and National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) on the survivor project, in commemoration of 16days of activism 2021, which focuses on advocacy for designated courts for SGBV

She said designating courts for SGBV are part of the solutions to curbing the menace, adding that it will help the prosecution and accelerate justice for the survivor.

Essien said litigation takes time and the country does not have enough success rate around prosecution of SGBV cases.

“Technicalities most times get these cases thrown out of court”. She said: “Litigations takes time but when you have a court that is designated to these issues, we will have effective and fast delivery of justice which we believe that if we are able to demonstrate to the public that there is a punishment for crimes of SGBV, it will help in reducing the menace.”