By Adeola Ogunlade
Stakeholders at a Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) programme have called for speedy trial of rape and other gender base violence cases in Nigerian courts toward ensuring timely justice for victims.
They made the call during the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (Centre LSD) SGBV Projects Review and Evaluation recently in Lagos. The projects conducted by Centre LSD is under the joint European Union/United Nation’s Spotlight Initiative programme.
The Lagos projects were implemented in six communities in Ikorodu and Yaba Local Government Areas; namely Igbogbo, Baiyeku and Ibeshe Communities in Ikorodu, while Iwaya, Adekunle and Makoko for Yaba LGA.
Speaking at the event, The General Secretary, Lagos Mainland Council of Imam, Imam Mas’ud Mohammed said that the slow pace of the judicial system in resolving rape cases had frustrated the efforts of many survivors from seeking justice.
He said that delay in the justice system had emboldened many perpetrators, while having a psychological effect on survivors
“A seven-year-old girl was raped in my community, and the case charged to court, however, we didn’t get judgment till seven years after”.
“This shouldn’t be; the process was frustrating and depressing for the girl, her family and interested parties, but our resolve to get justice kept us going,” he said.
Mohammed thus called for special courts to ensure privacy for survivors during hearing of cases and to fast track the judicial process.
He said that the trainings conducted under the Centre LSD SGBV projects had increased the knowledge and boldness of community and religious leaders in Makoko and Iwaya to speak and take a stance against gender based violence.
Also speaking at the programme, The Community Development Council Leader, Igbogbo/Baiyeku in Ikorodu, Pastor Abayomi Adelakun said that the intervention by Centre LSD had assisted the community to embark on preventive measures against SGBV.
According to him, harmful practices, domestic violence and abandonment issues against women and girls have reduced in the community,
In his words, The Baale of Makoko community, Chief Raymond Olaiya said that more collaboration between all stakeholders was needed to end SGBV in Lagos, and indeed Nigeria.
He said that the need for effective collaboration between the Lagos state institutions and the traditional rulers in a way that will ensure effective respond to community needs to address sexual and gender based violence is imperative.
He noted that the engagement of traditional Leaders in the fight against gender based violence SGBV is long overdue and is an important part of achieving a gender based violence free state.
Also, The Senior Programme Officer, Centre LSD, Mr Vincent Dania, said that the programme was held to review progress on commitments, lessons learnt, success stories and emerging issues on ending SGBV against women and girls.
He noted that the Spotlight Initiative is a joint EU-UN funded programme whose aim is to support a Nigeria where all women and girls, particularly the most vulnerable, live a life free from violence and harmful practices. Centre LSD is an implementing partner under UN Women with projects in Lagos and Cross Rivers States.