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The Executive Secretary, National Human Rights Commission, Mr Tony Ojukwu, on Monday said the Special Investigating Panel on Sexual and Gender Based Violence set up by the NHRC received 113 complaints and memorandums from the six geopolitical zones.
Many of the complaints were received from the South-East (35). With 19 complaints, North-Central came second followed by the North-West (17).
The South-South (26) came third followed by the South-West (12) in the fourth place.
The North-East has the lowest number (four).
Ojukwu spoke at the South-South zone public sitting of the panel in Benin on Monday in Benin.
He said the panel had completed sittings in Abuja, Lagos, Owerri and Kano.
The NHRC chief said, “This panel and the commission will adhere to the principles of fair hearing in discharging their functions and will not stand idle and watch while the fundamental human rights of citizens are being trampled upon and violated by the law enforcement agencies, entities or individuals.”
Meanwhile, stakeholders at the sitting lamented that, in spite of the painful experiences, getting the victims to speak out had been the biggest hindrance to the fight against sexual violence.
Chairperson, International Federation of Women Lawyers, Edo State chapter, Mrs Iryn Omorogiuwa, described sexual violence as a “terrible scourge,” saying victims needed to be encouraged to speak out.
Edo Commander, National Agency for Prohibition and Trafficking in Persons, Mrs Ijeoma Udual, said many of the victims got more abuses because of their refusal to speak out.
Source: PUNCH.
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