Stakeholders seek solutions for child survivors of sexual violence in the FCT

By Nneamaka Onyema

To conclude the years’16 days of activism against sexual/gender-based violence against children and vulnerable persons, Spotlight Initiative in conjunction with UNICEF held an inter-agency review of cases of sexual violence reported to Social welfare, Police, Ministry of Justice, NAPTIP, and NGOs.

The aim is to have a shared understanding of the bottlenecks constraining the adjudication of cases and to facilitate pro-bono legal aid/support team to provide tailored legal aid, advice, support, and effective referrals for the child victim.

Another objective of creating this solution room is to work with relevant heads of agencies in the police, Ministry of Justice, NAPTIP, and Judiciary with a view of removing the systemic barriers, accelerating legal aid, and access to justice, and enhancing synergy as well as information amongst agencies.

Relevant stakeholders including the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), European Union (EU), FCT Judiciary, Nigeria Police Force, Legal Aid Council, NAPTIP, United Nations (UN), FCT Social Development Secretariat, Network University Legal Aid Institution (NULAI), Child Protection Network (CPN) and the National Judicial Institute (NJI) were in attendance.

The Solution Room workshop was held from Wednesday 8th to Friday 10th December 2021 at Reiz Continental Hotel, Central Business District Abuja.

A total of eighty (80) cases were reviewed by volunteer members of various agencies and NGOs.

Problems highlighted and discussed consist of:

• Underage marriage
• Child rape
• Child defilement
• Sexual abuse and exploitation of children in physical space
• Online sexual exploitation
• Child trafficking and
• Child prostitution

Part of the conversation also includes that sexual exploitation leads to:

• Death
• Injuries
• Impaired brain
• Lifelong consequences
• Teenage pregnancies – induced abortions – gynaecological problems.
• Sexually transmitted deceases
• Impact future opportunities
• Generational problems

Some of the challenges faced in prosecuting suspects/perpetrators of this violence raised by the solution room include:

• Difference in age of child in different states
• Stigmatization
• Watering down of the provisions of the Child’s Rights Act in different states
• Some states have not adopted the Child’s Rights Act
• Prosecution issues
• Delayed justice

Solutions to a few of these problems raised were also discussed and highlighted thus—

• Strategic investigation and prosecution
• Implementation and enforcement of the provisions of the CRA
• Increased community driven advocacy/ sensitisations
• Inter-agencies collaborations
• Strengthen social welfare network in the FCT and beyond
• Legal backing to social welfare
• Provision of safe houses

At the end of the 3day workshop, volunteers indicated interest to follow up on fifty (50) priority cases for further prosecution and follow-up.

Nneamaka ONYEMA, Esq is an Abuja-based Legal practitioner.