With a strong institutional, legal, and regulatory framework in place, the Niger State government has made it clear that it is willing to cooperate with the media, civil society organizations, and security forces to combat the threat of gender-based violence.
In a Minna interview regarding sexual exploitation and abuse/harassments (SEAH) in the state, Mary Yisa, the Director of Planning, Research, and Statistics at the Niger State Ministry for Women Affairs, made this statement.
Remember that the state government said two weeks ago that anyone found guilty of beating their spouse faces a three-year prison sentence and a fine of up to N200,000.
Mrs Yisa revealed that the legal, policy and institutional frameworks for curbing GBV include the Violence Against Person Prohibited Law and Child Rights Act, penal code, section 34 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“The prevention and response to risks of SEAH will require intensive and multi-layered efforts bringing together many sectors including Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) such as health facilities, and SEAH service providers.
The Director of Planning, Research and Statistics of the ministry also said currently concerted efforts that include community awareness and education, capacity building for project staff in SEAH and employment of SEAH experts are already in place.
She said, “We are adequately resourcing the SEAH function in the project and enlisting the supplementary support of other SEAH Prevention and Response actors such as health providers, CSOs, Community-based Organizations (CBOs), and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs).”
“We appeal to you to help us modify it so that husbands that rape their wives get charged with lesser offences, including indecent assault with a mere maximum punishment of 3 years imprisonment.
Mrs. Jiya went on to say that the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015, a new law passed by the National Assembly, changed the definition and penalties of rape in 2015. According to this law, rape is defined as the deliberate piercing of a person’s mouth, anus, or vagina with any part of the body or anything else without the victim’s consent.