The Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice (HAGF), Abubakar Malami SAN has said that an agreed timeline for implementation, wide range of stakeholders and adequate funding are keys to successful eradication of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) in the country.
The HAGF made this known at the 2nd Meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Management Committee on the Eradication of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) in Abuja on Thursday 8th October, 2020.
He said the Committee should consider timeline agreement for the implementation, adequate funding, as well as involving the relevant stakeholders like the Police, Ministries of Interior, Education, Communication and Digital Economy and amongst others to ensure success in eradication of SGBV.
Malami commended the sincere commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to the eradication of SGBV and the provision of requisite sustainable services to survivors, adding that without adequate funding ,all their good intensions ends at the table.
He cited the recent gruesome rape and killings of 11 years old Tobi in Lagos as an unfortunate reminder of the very real presence of the evil in the society and the need to take urgent steps to address the destructive scourge.
According to him, “there is no denying the fact that by its nature, combating SGBV necessarily requires a multi-stakeholder engagement as no one sector can do it all. That is why each of you has been selected to represent key sectors and institutions”.
He said, “With the concerted efforts of all the stakeholders represented here, even this monumental assignment is achievable”.
Malami explained that in its determination to ensure the success of the work of the Committee, the Federal Government has directed the Co-Chairing of the Inter-Ministerial Management Committee on SGBV by the Hon. Minister for Women Affairs and Minister of State for Finance in the Inter-Ministerial Committee on SGBV.
Furthermore, they will harmonize all efforts and resources that have been established at the Federal level against the terrible crime in the society and to guarantee a better and more impactful result.
“The coming on board of the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning will also pave the way for this committee to attain the objective of providing support for better planning and gender responsive budgeting with a focus on prevention and eradication of SGBV”, Malami pointed.
“This will also facilitate the mainstreaming of SGBV implementation plan into the budget of relevant line of MDAs/Sectors of the economy to enable Nigeria achieve SDG 5 (on gender equality) and SDG 16(on peace, justice and strong institutions) of the United Nations 2030 Agenda respectively.
He noted that the 2nd general meeting presents an avenue for the Committee to consider and agree on the revised work-plan prepared by members to address existing gaps and challenges in the institutional responses to cases of SGBV in Nigeria, adding that once finalized, members will immediately commence activities of the committee.
Malami disclosed that at the inaugural meeting of the Committee, four (4) sub-committees were created out of the Committee for efficiency and effectiveness, which included; Sub-Committee on Law and Policies, Sub-Committee on Awareness and Advocacy, Sub-Committee on SGBV Data and Sub-Committee on Service Provision.
He encouraged Committee members to continue to give their very best to the fulfillment of the mandate and also commended the UN-EU Spotlight Initiative, other UN Specialized agencies including UNFPA, UN Women, UNDP, UNICEF who have been working assiduously with the committee for the past few weeks to ensure they set off on a right footing and achieve success in the programme.
The Honourable Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Dame Pauline Tallen, in her remarks thanked the President, for his full commitment in ensuring that the inter-ministerial Committee gets the National Executive Council (NEC) support to address the issues of SGBV aggressively.
Dame Tallen expressed appreciation and the doggedness of the Committee and International donors in the fight against the terrible monster that has given a negative image to the country.
“I know it’s a problem across the world, Nigeria is not an exception, but we must address what affects the country in all sense of responsibility”, she expressed.
The Hon. Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Prince Agba Clem, represented by Mrs Elizabeth Eghare, expressed his pleasure on how far the Committee has gone in setting up various sub-committees. He commended the efforts of the HAGF, Hon Minister of Women Affairs whom he described to be really committed in seeing that women and children enjoy a large respite from gender based violence.
The Executive Secretary National Human Rights Commission/ Chairman of the Committee, Tony Ojukwu who presented the workplan assured that SGBV Laws will be translated into four (4) languages-Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa and Pidgin English and amongst others.
In his remarks, the EU Head of Delegation, Ambassador Ketil Karlsen admitted that EU is equally facing gender based violence in Europe as well but they are working towards more programmes to ensure its eradication.
Also in attendance are representatives of CSO’s, Ministry of Justice Staff, National Orientation Agency among others.
Ogochukwu Igboamalu
F:DD Press and Information
