Abuja:The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and other stakeholders have urged the implementation of stronger measures to prevent Sexual and Gender-based Violence (SGBV) within Nigeria’s defence and security institutions. This call was made during a national multi-stakeholder policy dialogue organized by CISLAC and Transparency International Nigeria, with support from the Government of Ireland.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, CISLAC Executive Director, Mr. Auwal Rafsanjani, emphasized the need for security institutions to protect citizens’ rights, dignity, safety, and equality. He highlighted that effective institutions should not only focus on operational capacity but also on integrating gender responsiveness into their governance, operational procedures, and accountability systems.
Mr. Rafsanjani pointed out that fear of retaliation, stigma, and institutional barriers often prevent victims from reporting SGBV incidents. He called for the strengthening of prevention measures, safe reporting channels, and institutional accountability. He also emphasized the importance of keeping survivors and affected communities at the center of efforts to prevent SGBV and ensure accountability.
Mrs. Peace Arocha, Deputy Director of the Legal Services Department at the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC), identified underreporting as a major challenge in combating SGBV. As the Team Lead of the Sexual Harassment and Abuse Response Team, she encouraged victims to report incidents, assuring that the ICPC has the mandate to investigate and prosecute violators.
Dr. Tony Ojukwu, Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), represented by Mrs. Ngozi Okorie, highlighted that SGBV is both a consequence of insecurity and a feature of security responses. He called for human rights-centered and gender-responsive security operations to enhance community cooperation and operational effectiveness.
Yi Kang Choo from Transparency International Defence and Security stressed the need for stronger accountability and trusted reporting systems in combating sexual violence within security operations. Dineke Traore from the Embassy of the Netherlands emphasized the responsibility of security institutions to prevent abuse and respond effectively to build public trust.
The dialogue was attended by representatives from defence and security agencies, government ministries, development partners, and other stakeholders.