All Must Be Blamed For Increased SGBV In Nigeria—Okorie
BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto
All stakeholders must take responsibility for the increase in sexual violence against children in Nigeria, Chibueze Okorie has said.
Okorie who is the Director (Academics) at the Nigerian Law School, Abuja argued that until we learn how not to embark on blame game and collectively devote ourselves to protecting these children irrespective of where they come from, the fight against Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV) will still continue to witness setbacks.
Stressing further, Okorie advocated for strengthened
“Child Justice System” that should be humane, effective in reaching the expected goal, cost effective, respect human rights and in conformity with the United Nations Treaties.
Asking participants on their expectations at the end of the ongoing 4 Day capacity building workshop for stakeholders on, “Effective Investigation and Prosecution Of Sexual Violence Cases Against Children in Sokoto State”, Okorie thanked Sokoto State Government for domesticating the Child Protection Law.
All Must Be Blamed For Increased SGBV In Nigeria—Okorie
He however appealed that, the State should strive to go beyond domestication of the law to ensuring justice for survivors, hence doing so will serve as deterrents to those nursing such thoughts in due cause.
According to Okorie, “as parents, guardians, relatives, community and family members, investigators, prosecutors, members of the judiciary and society in general, our greatest concern should be how best to reduce the prevalence of sexual gender based violence against children and also work to obtain justice for survivors.
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While admitting that no society globally is totally crime free, Okorie however admonished the justice system to live up to expectations by ensuring justce is dispensed on time, perpetrators found guilty convicted and giving the right sentence.
Addressing participants in his welcome remarks, Sokoto State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Sulaiman Usman (SAN) said special knowledge, competence and skills in responding to violence against children are crucial towards ensuring effective system for the identification, investigation, and prosecution of cases in order to mitigate and prevent children from falling victims of such crimes.
The Attorney General who was represented by the Director, Public Defence and Focal Person Justice Partnership, Barrister Habiba Ahmed Usman said the training will help them understand constraints to successful prosecution and adjudication of cases based on shared understanding of legal and external issues.
“”Given the above, UNICEF in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice Sokoto is organizing this State high level capacity building programme on investigation and prosecution of sexual violence offence against children for law Enforcement officials and law officers in the State””.
Speaking on the, “Principles Of Child Jusice System”, one of the facilitators in the workshop from National Judicial Institute, Alkali Ibrahim Ahmed admonished parents and society to devote more time to bringing up children with sound morals.
“Having better children todays means having better society tomorrow, as the bunch of criminals we see today are mostly products of faulty parenting and societal failure in there collective responsibility to ensure best interest of the Child is guaranteed at all time”.
On her part, Sokoto State Director of Public Prosecution and acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Barrister Aishatu Ahmed Kaoje said justice for children must be sacrificial and not about monetary values.
Present at the 4 day workshop include, Mr Pius Uwamanua, UNICEF Sokoto Field Office Child Protection Specialist, among others.
