Information, Women Affairs Ministries plan national campaign against rape
Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed (middle); Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, Deaconess Grace Isu-Gekpe (second left) and the Executive Secretary, National Human Rights Commission, Mr Tony Ojukwu (second right) when the commission paid an advocacy visit to the Minister on rape and gender based violence in Abuja on Thursday.
(Nigeria0 Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai
Mohammed, has said his ministry is partnering with the Federal Ministry of
Women Affairs to launch a national campaign against rape and gender-based
violence in the country.
The Minister stated this in Abuja on Thursday when he
received a delegation of the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, led by its
Executive Secretary, Mr Tony Ojukwu, on an advocacy visit.
“As a matter of fact, the Federal Ministry of Information
and Culture is partnering with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs to launch
a national campaign against rape and gender based violence. This campaign will
include advocacy, public sensitization and social mobilization.
''The campaign is necessary not only to raise the level of
awareness about rape and gender based violence, but to ensure that Nigerians
own the fight against the abhorrent and repulsive criminal acts,” he said.
Mohammed assured that the government will leave no stone
unturned in its efforts to stamp out rape and other forms of violence against
women..
“I can assure you that the Federal Government will do
everything possible to stem the growing tide of rape and gender-based violence
in the country,” he said.
The Minister quoted the Inspector-General of Police as
saying that between January and May 2020, a total of 717 rape cases were
reported, and expressed delight that 799 suspects were arrested during the same
period, while 631 cases were conclusively investigated and charged to court.
In his remarks, Mr Ojukwu said the Commission is carrying out
a week of activism, with the theme 'Equality and Dignity for Women'', as part
of its advocacy against rape and gender-based violence.
He called on the police and other first responders to be
more proactive in checking the cases of gender-based violence in the country,
and described rape as the violation of the right to life and dignity of the
victim.
The NHRC Executive Secretary sought assistance from the
Minister in the campaign, especially in utilizing the public information organs
to create more awareness on the issue.
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