The Senate has expressed concern over the incessant rise in sexual assault and domestic violence reported against women and children across the country.
Presenting a motion titled “Urgent need to investigate the alarming rate of Rape and Sexual Assault against Women, Children and Vulnerable people across the Country”,at its plenary session of Tuesday, May 23rd 2017, Sen. Bala Ibn Na’allah (APC: Kebbi) noted with dismay, the steady increase in the reported cases of sexual and domestic violence. Sen. Na’allah also called for a quick redress to this situation stating that perpetrators constitute a threat to society’s security, as these cases are often under-reported.
He also cited relevant statistics released by the Lagos State Government and publications by the Human Rights Watch, which buttressed that a majority of such cases were often never concluded nor able to secure fruitful convictions of accused persons. Sen. Biodun Olujimi (PDP: Ekiti) also spoke in support of the motion and strongly condemned the act stating that it is against the cultural and religious orientation and moral belief of the society.
Following this, the Senate resolved to:
- Mandate its Committee on Health, Women Affairs and Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters to engage relevant stakeholders with a view to resolving these issues;
- Urge the Inspector General of Police to investigate and prosecute cases of sexual abuse in accordance with the provisions of the extant laws of the Federation;
- Urge the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and paramilitary agencies to establish functional help desks to provide assistance and support to victims; and
- Urge the Judiciary to review sentencing laws on all sexual offences and domestic violence in view of making them more deterrent.
