The United Nations has commended the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, for its multisectoral approach to ending all forms of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, SGBV.
Dr Najat M’jid, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Violence against Children, gave the commendation in Abuja on Tuesday during her visit to the Awyetu Sexual Assault Referral Centre, SARC, as contained in a statement issued by the spokesman of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, Mr Lere Olayinka.
The SARC, located at Bwari General Hospital, was established in 2020 by the British Council on behalf of the European Union under its Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption, RoLAC programme.
The centre was set up to provide comprehensive medical, psychological, and legal support to survivors of sexual violence, with a particular focus on children and vulnerable populations.
M’jid expressed satisfaction with the synergy among the various sectors working collaboratively to eliminate all forms of SGBV within the FCT.
“I am happy today because of what I have seen, many ministries are onboard supporting the fight against SGBV.
“This is because the problem is not only the problem of FCT Women Affairs; the issues are also in health, in Justice, and in communities,” she said.
She noted that her visit to the country aimed to understand the efforts being made to address SGBV, “and how together, we can move forward.”
M’jid further stated that Nigeria was one of the pathfinding countries in the global campaign to end violence against children.
She added that the country had shown significant involvement and commitment to ending all forms of violence against children, and had made formal pledges to that effect.
“Visit to Nigeria is to see how we can move ahead, how we can support and how we can achieve set targets from the many commitments the country has made.
“We want to see how we can translate those commitments into concrete services that will prevent and address all forms of violence against children,” she said.
The special representative, however, emphasised the importance of addressing the root causes of SGBV, detecting and responding to reported cases, and ensuring effective prevention mechanisms.
She further remarked: “It is really important to make sure that the victims can be heard, be considered and be seen as victims and make the perpetrators accountable.
“There is also the need to stop justifying violence against children and women through poverty and through social norms.”
Earlier, the Mandate Secretary of the FCT Women Affairs Secretariat, Mrs Adebayo Benjamins-Laniyi, affirmed that a multisectoral problem required a multisectoral approach for meaningful resolution.
Benjamins-Laniyi stated that stronger synergy among key stakeholders was vital to delivering effective interventions at both the local and state levels, in alignment with global best practices.
She described M’jid’s visit as a “positive disruption” that had inspired a renewed drive for partnership and collaboration among various stakeholders to improve the well-being of women and children in the FCT.
The Mandate Secretary also disclosed that the FCT Administration had initiated plans to reposition the SARC to provide high-quality, integrated services to SGBV survivors.
Similarly, the Mandate Secretary of the Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, said M’jid’s visit reaffirmed the global commitment to protecting children from violence.
Fasawe, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Secretariat, Dr Baba-Gana Adam, noted that the visit was highly encouraging.
She added that it also reinforced the crucial role of sexual assault referral centres in ensuring access to care, justice, and dignity for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.
She revealed that the hospital had continued to sustain services at the centre after the conclusion of RoLAC support, albeit amidst several challenges.
The Mandate Secretary highlighted some of the pressing issues, including inadequate funding for essential drugs and kits, limited staff training and incentives, inconsistent collaboration with law enforcement agencies, and the lack of prevention and community awareness programmes.
