BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto –
The Director of Academics at Nigerian Law School, Abuja, Barrister Chibueze Okorie, says rape as one of the types of Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV) is not just an offence but an abominable crime against humanity.
Barrister Okorie stated this on Wednesday in Sokoto during the 4 day capacity building workshop organized by the state Ministry of Justice with support from Access to Justice and EU-UN Spotlight Project..
The workshop has its theme as, “‘Effective Investigation and Prosecution of Sexual Violence Cases Against Children In Sokoto”.
Speaking on, “‘Preliminary and General Issues on Sexual Violence Against Children” Okorie said in the absence of conviction, perpetrators of Sexual Gender Based Violence will never cease to continue there evil ways in the society.
While appealing that securing conviction of SGBV perpetrators needs meticulous collaboration of actors such as the investigators, prosecutors and the judiciary, Okorie opined that absence or lack of confidence in the judicial system often give birth to people taking laws into hands.
He said : “‘This therefore explains why investigators on issue relating to GBV need to be very meticulous, those in prosecution should also be honest and ensure that the law speaks for children through all the actors that are professional in the administration of criminal justice””.
“People break laws in Nigeria because there are no consequences, adding, “and in reality, that is the major challenge. If the justice system works well, I can assure you that many things will take effect for good”. He affirmed.
“‘Giving examples of sexual violence, Okorie quoted World Health Organization (WHO) as listing sexual violence to include rape, unwanted sexual advances or sexual harassment, sexual slavery, sexual abuse of mental or physical, customary forms of sexual violence such as forced marriages, violent acts against the sexual integrity of women, genital mutilation, forced prostitution and trafficking of people for sexual exploitation”.
On her part, Sokoto State Director of Public Prosecution, Barrister Aishatu Ahmed Kaoje said the state is making steady progress in the direction of securing convictions of SGBV perpetrators.
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