NHRC wants special court handle offences against women

NHRC wants special court handle offences against women

Tuesday, March 8, 2016 4:12 pm


Angwe: Executive Secretary of NHRC

Angwe: Executive Secretary of NHRC

The National Human Rights Commission has advocated special courts for women-related violence to ensure diligent prosecution of such cases.

The Executive Secretary of the commission, Prof. Bem Angwe, made the call at a news conference to mark the 2016 International Women’s day in Abuja on Tuesday.

Angwe decried the high rise in complaints on violence inflicted on women, saying diligent prosecution was necessary to end the trend.

“The special courts are necessary because cases of violence against women are usually crowded out by civil and political cases in the conventional courts.

“With the special courts, adequate attention will be given to the cases and the perpetrators brought to justice without delay,’’ Angwe said.

He further called for the effective implementation of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act, the Sexual Offences Act and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.

According to him, beyond prosecution, the new legislations place equal priority on protection of victims as well as compensation and other forms of redress.

On the current trend of abduction of the girl-child in Nigeria, the executive secretary called on the Federal Government and relevant stakeholders to expedite action toward ensuring the release of other abductees.

He further said that as the world gathered momentum toward a gender-equal planet by 2030, there was need to recognise and promote the economic, cultural and socio-political potential of women.

The NHRC boss added that the commission was determined to ensure that women were no longer regarded as objects of inheritance in the society but as the pride of the society.

Women were encouraged to report cases of abuse to the relevant authorities as this was the only way the perpetrators would be fished out and punished adequately.

While reiterating the need for social security protection for women and children, he urged all stakeholders to join the commission in it’s strive to end impunity against women.

Some of the gender-related complaints received by the commission are sexual violence, domestic violence, forced marriage, women trafficking and early marriage, among others.


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