A deputy commissioner of police in Borno, DCP Ahmad Bello, has urged the federal government to address the issue of stigmatisation faced by victims of sexual violence, News About Nigeria reports.
He made the call while speaking at a stakeholders’ consultative meeting on Enhancing Gender-Responsive Security Operations and Community Dialogue, organised by UN Women in collaboration with the Borno Ministry of Women Affairs, in Maidugiri.
He noted that the culture of silence and stigmatisation of rape and other sexual violence victims needs to stop.
According to him, the withdrawal of rape cases by the relatives of victims during prosecution has a lot to do with the fear of stigmatisation.
Bello, who represented the Borno Police Command at the meeting, also called for stringent laws to stop the withdrawal of rape and other sexual violence cases by relatives of victims in court.
“Another major thing that needs to be addressed is the culture of silence and stigmatisation of rape and other sexual violence victims.
“We have seen instances where, while a sexual violence case is progressing, prosecutors will get court affidavits from victim relations saying they want to withdraw the case.
“Such intentions to withdraw have to do with fear of stigmatization. In many instances, the victims want justice but are put in a dilemma by their relatives,” he stated.
He, therefore, called for laws to keep requests for withdrawal of the cases under KIV for some time to enable the victim to finally decide on the matter.
He also urged UN Women and other stakeholders to sponsor a bill to address some of the loopholes slowing down the fight against sexual and gender-based violence in society.
