International Women’s Day: Nigeria to end gender-based violence – Malami

At the moment that the world celebrates International Women’s Day of this year, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN, disclosed Nigeria’s commitment towards guaranteeing an end to gender-based violence in the nation.

Malami declared that the Federal Government has concentrated on the issue of sexual and gender-based violence and is working towards establishing specialised courts and Judicial Divisions dedicated on sexual and gender-based violence.

Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN

According to a statement by Dr Umar Gwandu, the Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations, Office of the AGF, on Monday, revealed that Malami talked at a virtual meeting on “Special Event on Gender Dimensions of Criminal Justice Responses to Terrorism”, organized by the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC).

It further stated that the virtual meeting was part of events celebrating the International Women’s Day, held in Kyoto, Japan.

In accordance with the statement, Malami, recollected that he had a year ago, launched the Inter-Ministerial Management Committee on Eradication of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence with the expectation that it would serve as a significant tool in assisting Nigeria to resolve the crime.

The AGF stated that in partnership with significant shareholders, the Complex Case Group under the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice leads in the effort to bring alleged terrorists to justice.

It also work to consist of sexual violence related charges against Boko Haram suspects, in alliance with the military, police and other security service investigators from the multi-agency Joint Investigation Centre, in North-East Nigeria.

Malami also expressed that the current administration was completely aware that giving a voice to women was a significant aspect of development, even as he portrayed women as vital agents of positive change.

He further declared with dismay that terrorist groups continued to abduct and commit sexual and gender-based violence against women and girls, emphasizing that averting these crimes and bringing the culprits to justice remained a priority of the President Buhari-led régime.

Malami said, “Another emerging area of grave concern is the abduction and kidnapping of teenagers in boarding houses for ransom. The perpetrators targeted this group of people possible to scare them from schooling. This is indeed a sad situation.

“The Nigerian armed forces and law enforcement agencies are working day and night to combat insecurity, terrorism, kidnapping, and abduction of people in the country.

“We must work to prevent both male and female perpetrators from carrying out these acts and support those who have been victims.”

The AGF disclosed that in collaboration with UNODC, the European Union, as well as the Federal Government, inaugurated the “Nigeria Training Module on Gender Dimensions in the Criminal Justice: Response to Terrorism”.

He declared that the Module offers practical guidance, based on Nigeria’s legal framework, as well as international and African regional laws and good practices to assist Nigerian officers in tackling the issues of gender in the counter-terrorism perspective.

The AGF recognised the significant role women play, not just as policy-makers and law enforcement officials, but also wives and mothers, in averting violent radicalism and in de-radicalisation, restoration, and recovery of offenders.

Finally, Malami said that Nigeria had likewise established a National Action Plan on the Implementation of Security Council Resolution 1325 on the Women, Peace, and Security agenda, which he stated was related to efforts to respond to the necessities and advance the role of women in efforts to tackle terrorists in the nation.