Group seeks increased funding to tackle SGBV cases

The President, National League of Women Voters (NILOWV), Mrs Irene Awunah-Ikyegh, has appealed to government at all levels to increase funding for gender units to enable the units to promptly tackle Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) issues.

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She made the appeal in her address of welcome at a stakeholders meeting on “Access to Justice for SGBV Survivors” on Wednesday in Makurdi.

She also called for a budget line by government at all levels for smooth operation of the Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) in Benue and across the country.

She added that there should be provision for budget line for the implementation of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act and Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL).

“State governments should as well deploy adequate personnel and equipment to SARCs for effective service delivery. State governments should also assign a coordinating ministry to oversee the running of SARCs, as well as see to the setting up of committees or state response teams to monitor the VAPP implementation.”

She explained that among the objectives of the meeting is: to engender discussions on local issues that impede access to justice by SGBV survivors
in Benue and to develop community-driven solutions that would guide citizens’ unfettered access to justice.

She added that another objective is to sensitise participants on the rights of an abused person and available mechanisms for redress.

The Commissioner for Justice and Public Order, Mr Fidelis Mnyim, represented by Mrs Terfa Suswam, assured that the ministry would not rest on its oars and would ensure that survivors of SGBV recieved justice.

NAN/Wumi