The Senate at its plenary session of Wednesday, 10 June 2020, debated the Rape and Insurgency Victims Stigmatization (Prohibition) Bill, (SB 243) and referred same to its Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters for further legislative scrutiny.

The Bill which seeks to to encourage victims of rape to testify in court including the prosecution and punishment of any person or group of persons who stigmatize such victims is sponsored by Sen. Mohammed Sani Musa (APC: Niger)

Presenting the lead debate on bill, Sen. Sani expressed dismay over the scourge of instabilities across most communities in Nigeria arising from insurgency, banditry, violence against women and children and the most common phenomenon which is rape. He explained that the objective of the Bill is to provide a legal system that helps victims through the psychological and traumatic experiences as a result of rape.

Giving an overview of the Bill, Sen. Musa explained that the Bill contains 11 Clauses which he described as follows:

• Clauses 1 and 2, which ensures the protection of the rights of victims of rape and insurgency;
• Clause 3, which provides penalties for offences of stigmitization;
• Clauses 4 and 5, which makes it mandatory for an employer to absolve a victim(s) of rape or insurgency, pay their entitlement and including penalties for contravention;
• Clauses 6 and 7, that lays out the right of an aggrieved person seeking redress in a Court;
• Clauses 8, which empowers the AGF and Minister of Justice and the Commissioners of Justice to ensure compliance and enforcement of provisions of the Bill;
• Clause 9 and 10, which also empowers the AGF and Minister of Justice to make regulations generally for the purpose of giving effect to the provisions of the Bill; and
• Clause 11: The Citation of the bill.

Sen. Musa further informed the Senate that the Bill also ensures that victims of rape and insurgency are re-integrated into the society and given equal rights and opportunities as every citizen. He noted that the extremely low conviction rate for rape and sexual abuses has given rise to an increase in violence against women.