NHRC tackles 232 gender based violence in 3 months
Chima Azubuike
No fewer than 232 cases were received and treated by National Human Rights Commission between March to June 2020, adding that infringement on the rights of others worsened in the heat of coronavirus pandemic.
According to Barr. Tony Ojukwu, Executive Secretary of the commission, the cases cut across violence against women and girls, rape and other forms of sexual assault across the federation.
Ojukwu who was represented by Ayuba Shamsudden,Gombe state coordinator of NHRC at commemoration of the international day on elimination of violence against women, girls and the launch of 16 days activism on violence against women.
According to Ojukwu, “Some forms of the violence experienced by women and girls include rape, domestic violence, forced early marriage, denial of marriage inheritance, physical and sexual assault and female genital mutilation, denial of family inheritance, harmful widowhood practices, etc., among other human right violations/abuses.
“Violence against women and girls is a human rights violation that impacts on, and impedes progress in many areas of their lives, and the country’s realisation of its obligations under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and other international human rights treaties. It aggravates poverty (SDG 1), hunger (SDG2), health related issues (SDG3), education (SDG4), gender equality (SDG 5) and peace & security (SDG16).”
He added that the covid-19 pandemic worsened the rate of violence against women and girls.
“This is seen in the number of reports received from the public by the commission. Between March and June 2020, the commission received and treated about 232 cases of various forms of violence against women and girls, including rape, sexual assaults, domestic violence and other forms of inhuman treatments,” he said.
