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The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in partnership with EU-UN Spotlight initiative conveyed an opening ceremony on the 8th of February 2021 in hearing alleged cases of sexual and gender based violence through a special Investigation panel in Lagos.
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At the Public sitting of the Special Investigation Panel on SGBV in Lagos, the Executive Secretary of NHRC, Tony Ojukwu Esq. who was represented by Mr A.A Yakubu (Director CPR ) said in his opening statement that sexual and gender based violence are harmful acts directed at a person based on their gender and has its roots in gender inequality which is a life threatening and protection issues.
He said as a Quasi-Judicial agency, the commission is vested with the power to investigate all alleged cases of human rights violation, monitor developments in various thematic areas of human rights, assist victims of human rights violation through appropriate awards and compensation, bringing it’s finding to the attention of the government as well as ensuring the government’s compliance with international and regional human rights obligations among other functions.
In an interview with the Director of Women and Children Department of NHRC Harry Obe Ogwuche who was the Internal counsel to the panel said what gave rise to the special panel investigation on sexual and gender based violence is the prevalence of complains of cases of SGBV.
“In our course of work, we received complains from members of the public on particular human rights violation. So the issue of sexual and gender based violence became really prevalent so we thought there was need for special mechanism to address these complains.
But the main trigger was sometime in 2019 when a task force team by FCT administration raided night clubs in Abuja and they arrested women. Mostly women and no man was arrested. They were accused of engaging in nudity and things like that is clearly a discrimination against women.
“So the presidency now directed the commission using its mandate to set up a panel to investigate those cases and come up with the recommendations to redress the allegations”. He said.
“If you look at the ACT setting up the commission, recommendations and awards by the commission have a binding effects as a judgement of high court”
He opined that recommendations coming from the panel will be implemented by relevant agencies of government to which such recommendations are directed.
Awa Kalu (SAN), external counsel to the panel on SGBV told us in another interview at the function that sexual and gender based violence is presently on a rampage and so National Human Rights Commission thought it was time to take active steps to minimise the scourge and that is why the panel was established.
” When you are making an effort to stop something, you are also letting the world know something wrong is happening. The gradual effect is that one day, it will be resolved”. He asserted.
The meeting believes increased sensitisation by civil society organisations, Media, NHRC, and other people that are interested in advancing the human rights of victims of violence would emboldened victims to speak out, apparently, we would have a society that is less threatened by the shadow pandemic of sexual and gender based violence.
