A group under the aegis of Christian Women for Excellence and Empowerment in Nigerian Society, CWEENS, has called for the creation of a centralised database to track and prosecute offenders of sexual violence, especially in conflict areas.
The group also described sexual violence as a humanitarian crisis that demands urgent national attention.
This was disclosed by the National Coordinator of CWEENS, Prof. Oluwafunmilayo Para-Mallam, at an event to commemorate the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflicts, held in Jos, the Plateau State capital.
She said, “Sexual violence has become a weapon of war, with victims ranging from internally displaced women to young girls and persons with disabilities.
“The crisis has extended beyond rape to include physical, emotional, and socio-economic abuse driven by systemic patriarchy and worsening insecurity.”;
Para-Mallam, a gender advocate, maintained that, “The survivors of sexual abuse suffer lasting psychological scars including depression, suicidal thoughts, and societal rejection.
“Many victims face double tragedy when families disown them, and husbands divorce wives raped during captivity, leaving them re-traumatised and unsupported,”; Para-Mallam said.
According to her, data from recent studies show that 95 percent of victims are female, especially disabled women who are at greater risk.
She said, shockingly, 82.3 percent of perpetrators were known to survivors, including family members, teachers, and neighbours, highlighting how violence was thriving even in homes and schools.
Para-Mallam said urgent steps that could be taken to curb the menace included deployment of gender-responsive policing and women-led task forces in IDP camps.
She also suggested funding for women’s agribusiness to reduce poverty-driven trafficking and mass awareness campaigns to challenge patriarchal norms.
