The Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami has said that the Federal Government is planning to establish specialized courts and judicial divisions for handling cases of sexual and gender-based violence.
Mr Malami, in a statement on Monday by his spokesperson, Umar Jibrilu Gwandu, stated this during a virtual conference on “Special event on gender dimensions of criminal justice responses to terrorism,” organised by the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC) as part of events commemorating the International Women Day (IWD).
According to Mr Malami, the measure is part of the Federal Government’s renewed effort to address issues bordering sexual and gender-based violence.
The AGF recalled that last year the Inter-Ministerial Management Committee on Eradication of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence was in augurated with the aim of helping Nigeria address the menace.
“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,” he said.
He said in partnership with UNODC as well as the European Union, the Federal Government launch the “Nigeria Training Module on Gender Dimensions in the Criminal Justice: Response to Terrorism”.
According to him, the module provides practical guidance based on Nigeria’s legal framework as well as international and African regional laws and good practices to support Nigerian officials in addressing the issues of gender in the counter-terrorism context.
He said, “The Nigerian National Action Plan for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism” notes the important role women play not only as policy-makers and law enforcement officers but also wives and mothers in preventing violent extremism and in de-radicalisation, rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders.
“Nigeria also has developed a National Action Plan on the Implementation of Security Council Resolution 1325 on the Women, Peace and Security agenda which he said was relevant to efforts to respond to the needs and promote the role of women in efforts to address terrorism,” Mr Malami said.
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