From Alhasan Bala ,Abuja

The National Assembly has pledged to make stiffer legislation or amend existing laws that will strengthen the fight against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in Nigeria to conform with global best practices.

The Chairman Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele stated this in Abuja Thursday, when he represented the Senate President, Senator Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan at the official launch of the UNSUB web and mobile application, as a response platform for victims of SGBV in Nigeria.

The Senate President observed that issues of SGBV have been further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria and across the globe, “saying there is a need for us as a nation to come together, brainstorm and fashion out best ways to tackle the menace.

According to the Senate President who is also the Chairman of the National Assembly, “injection of technologies would always minimize the potency of criminal actions and expand the range of management, in the concerted bid to rid the system of these crimes”.

He said the theme of this launching, which is “Exploring Innovative Routes to tackling the escalation of SGBV in a pandemic”, is very apt as it captures the essence of creativity in dealing with a malaise, made rife by the pandemic.

The Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Tony Ojukwu Esq. in his statement noted that perpetrators of rape and other Sexual and Gender-Based Violence will no longer go unpunished following the launch of UNSUB Platform by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in collaboration with other partners as the platform will ensure accountability for these heinous crimes.

According to the Ojukwu, UNSUB Platform is designed by a technology company, CANs to support responders to cases of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence to get justice for the survivors and victims, as well as pave the way for the punishment of offenders in accordance with the law.

The Chief Human Rights Officers in Nigeria disclosed that UNSUB Platform is launched in collaboration with CANs, OSIWA, Office of the Vice President, and Embassy of Switzerland to facilitate synergy amongst stakeholders in handling cases of rape and SGBV.

“The Commission has observed with admiration the upsurge in efforts by various stakeholders through varying activities all geared towards tackling the global monster of SGBV from their respective corners and there is no doubt that the various efforts have helped in no small measures in addressing the problems of SGBV which is highly commendable”, the Executive Secretary stated.

Ojukwu recalled that before the launch of UNSUB Platform, the Commission had carried out a series of advocacy to stamp out the increasing cases of SGBV which he pointed out include an automated 24 hours call center with gender-sensitive attendants that operationalize the UNSUB Platform.

The Human Rights Chief Executive Officer said that the Nigerian Communications Commission and the Office of the Vice President have concluded arrangements to include NHRC as one of the response agencies in the national Emergency Communications Centre (ECC) “to avail us the use of 112-toll free number as an added number for reporting SGBV and other human rights abuses all over the country”.

He also used the opportunity to appreciate the support of President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, and the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, GCON, SAN for always leading from the front on the fight against rape, SGBV, and other human rights violations.

In his remarks, the Deputy Chairman House Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matter, Hon. Simon Karu who represented the Chairman of the Committee, Hon. John Dyegh said that they are ready to collaborate with the Commission to ensure that the disturbing issues of rape and other SGBV cases are tackled head-on.

The climax of the event was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding by NHRC’s Executive Secretary and CANs Managing Partner, Olajide Abiose to ensure a smooth operation of the UNSUB Platform.

Abiose said that the UNSUB Platform will serve as a veritable platform to encourage reportage of SGBV cases because “it inspires confidence and allows for anonymous reporting”.

Other partners in the fights against SGBV and other related violations who were represented at the occasion include OFFICE OF THE AGF, IGP, NAPTIP, WACOL, FIDA, WRAPA, OSIWA, etc.