27th AUGUST, 2020

Protocols:

I deeply commend all of you with delight and gratitude for the opportunity to be with you here today as a special invited guest at this occasion of the conference on sexual violence against women and girls in Nigeria.

2. I sincerely wish to thank the team leader and organizers of this occasion for their wisdom in putting together this gathering in order to discuss a topical matter that is of critical nature and character to the emerging challenges facing not just Nigeria, but most African Nations and the world over.

3. Sexual violence against women and girls is seen, but not limited to the characteristics of violence occurring in the family or domestic unit, including inter-alia, physical and mental aggression, emotional and psychological abuse, rape and sexual abuse, incest, rape between spouses, crimes committed in the name of honour, partner homicide, female genital mutilation, sex-selective abortion and other traditional practices harmful to women and girls child, such as forced marriages; it also include the violation of the human rights of women in situations of armed conflicts, in particular the taking of hostages, forced displacement, systematic rape, sexual slavery, forced pregnancy and trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation. This conceptualization of sexual violence against women and girls, the circumstantial involvement of Nigeria and what it portends, going further, realistically calls for critical debates such as the ongoing Breakforth’s Conference on Sexual Violence in Nigeria as a way of finding credible and sustainable solutions to its ugly occurrence and pandemic proportion in Nigeria and the world over.

4. The history of sexual violence against women and girl child which without doubts, is primitively related to the medieval perception of women and girl child as property and gender role of subservience has become a major inhibition to growth and development in African societies. This perception which in itself is a violent mindset has manifestly led to unequal generational opportunities, acquisitions and power relations between men and women in Nigeria and other African societies. Similarly, it this has also consistently imposed the trappings of gender discriminations against women and the girl child in most African societies and Nigeria in particular, thereby preventing the full advancement of women as productive forces of growth and development of families and societies. Furthermore, sexual violence against women and girl child has heightened the contradictions of social cohesion and impediment to women exercising their political, economic and social rights.

Other than the challenges of social divisions posed by sexual violence against women and girls in Nigeria, it has also extended its implications on other social realms of the health sector, including stigmatization, emotional trauma and low esteem to women and the girl child. Similarly, many homes and societies in Nigeria have witnessed sexual violence against women and girl child in private sphere, where it has largely led to avoidable deaths and disabilities among women.

5. Ladies and gentlemen, it is on record that countries of the world and successive governments in Nigeria and other Nations, either independently or collective and in active collaboration with civil society organizations, feminist activists, gender based associations and nongovernmental organizations, e.t.c have been in the front burners for the fight against sexual violence against women and girls, these include the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women,1993; the 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China; the Incorporation of Violence Against Women Issues into the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women ;The Inter-American Convention on Violence Against Women, which was formally announced and adopted by the organization of American States in 1994;the 1997 Resolution of the European Union calling for Zero tolerance of Sexual Violence Against women; the World Conference on Women in Nairobi,1985; the Istanbul Convention,2014, the Child Right Act; the Legal Defence and Assistance Project; and the ratification of the Protocol to Africa Charter on Human and People’s Right on the Right of Women in Africa among others.

6. In recognition of the fundamental significance of the role of women and the girls as mothers of generations and critical stakeholders in the development process of African societies and Nigeria in particular, the government of President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR has immensely supported the cause for women and girl child protection and empowerment since the inception of the present administration in 2015.

Mr. President has also constantly called for an end to violence against women and children in the country and around the world. At the recent United Nations Spotlight Town Hall on Sexual Gender Based Violence in Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR further maintained his commitment to ending sexual violence against women and children. He said and I quote as follows:

“I stand in solidarity with all women and children in Nigeria and around the world and say no to Violence against women and children”.

Mr. President also inaugurated the Gender Based Violence Management Committee in June 2020

Similarly, Mr. President’s has further affirmed his commitment to sustaining the 35 percent Affirmative Action of women participation in governance, he appointed seven women into the present administration as Federal Executive Council members, a female Head of Service for the Federation, several female federal permanent secretaries, several female heads of Parastatals, department and agencies among others.

Upon assumption of office in 2015, the government of President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR ensured for the adoption of Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act of 2015, which prohibits female genital mutilation, harmful widowhood practices, harmful traditional practices and all forms of violence against persons in both.

7. Ladies and gentlemen, while I acknowledge your audience at this occasion, I urge you all to recognize and hold unto the fact that the fight against sexual violence against women and girls in Nigeria also largely depend on our concerted resolve to fight the menace. We must reinforce the rational foundations of sex education and good moral training beginning at the family level as the first unit of socialization.

We should support the cause of police prosecutorial efficiency, judicial independence and its effectiveness in dealing with reported and known cases of sexual violence against women and girls.

Traditional institutions must take up the challenge to modify certain cultural practices and exhibitions which are overtly against the general rules and applications of the fundamental human rights of women in a growing and globalized world which Nigeria is a key player.

Thank you for listening.