Mrs Beatrice Jedy-Agba, the Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice has called for urgent measures to combat School-Related Gender Based Violence (SRGBV) in Nigeria.
Jeddy-Agba made the call at the inauguration of the Committee on Legal Pathway for the Prosecution of Perpetrators of School Related Gender-Based Violence on Monday in Abuja.
She said the discourse about SRGBV has been on the front burner in different fora as an emerging menace that can no longer be ignored and one which must be combatted decisively and squarely.
“SRGBV as the name implies, school related gender-based violence occurs in schools, around school or as a result of school
relationship.
“It is perpetrated based on gender norms or stereotypes and enforced by unequal power dynamics in the school environs.
“It occurs in multifarious dimensions and includes physical violence, sexual violence and psychological violence, teacher-perpetrated abuse, excessive punishment, sexual harassment or sexual coercion, bullying by peers, rape, physical assault, sexual assault and et al.
“SRGBV is pervasive in many schools globally and constitutes both a crime and a violation of the human rights of children and therefore, should be stopped at all costs,” she said.
Jeddy-Agba the committee was established to develop a Standard Operating Procedure as a standard working tool and guideline to guide key stakeholders in Basic Education Institution across Nigeria to respond to cases of SRGBV when they occur.
“The committee will, therefore, work together with the SGBV Response Unit to facilitate and develop this document to provide a routine procedure to respond to these cases in schools.
“This opportunity is critical, it is the result of the vision, the will, the commitment to create a safe space for our children and Nigeria”.
“I therefore, charge you to give these the focus and seriousness it deserves because we owe it to our children, and our Nation to resolve this task”.
Also speaking, Mr Stephen Onyekwelu, the representative of UNESCO said that gender-based violence cannot be eradicated without education.
“Education is key in trying to change one’s negative norms, attitudes and behaviour and we are doing several things to see how our educational system can address the issue of gender-based violence globally.
“We have worked with various secondary schools in the FCT establishing school gender classes, we supported in the revising the National Basic Education curriculum to improve some components of gender-based violence issues.
“We are working directly with the Federal Ministry of Education, currently revising the National healthcare policy for secondary schools which will be presented at the upcoming National Council of Education”.
He said that the event is the height of the effort in curbing gender based violence.
“Sometimes, when you go out, what you see is cases with no legal backing to pursue it, the police will tell you there are no supporting documents to back up their actions.
“But what we are doing today is certainly going to address most of these challenges that will enable us to effectively bring perpetrators to book, especially at the school levels.
Mrs Yewande Gbola-Awopetu, Head, SGBV, ministry of justice thanked the participants and pledged government resolve is addressing gender based violence issues.
“Rest assured that the legal partway will bring sanity in our school domain and create safe space for the children.
“It is our utmost desire that our efforts against this heinous crime will transcend to positive actions in the successful drafting of the standard operating procedure.
Source: News Agency of Nigeria