Organisation says 80% of rape victims in Plateau are minors
NAN-H-48
Rape
By Martha Agas
Jos, Feb. 8, 2017 (NAN) The Christian Women for Excellence and Empowerment in Nigeria (CWEENS), says 80 per cent of the 141 rape cases recorded in Plateau from 2015 to 2016 are minors.
Mrs Comfort Zawaya, the Project Officer for the organization, disclosed this during a courtesy visit to the Plateau Peace Building Agency on Wednesday in Jos.
She attributed the rising cases of rape in the state to lack of adequate laws to prosecute perpetrators.
According to her, this led to the establishment of the Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Observatory Group to report such and ensure rapid response mechanism to reverse the trend.
“Some existing laws in the Penal Code are outdated and do not address the contemporary issues, and some of these laws have become obsolete,’’ she said.
Zawaya said the visit was to seek partnership with the agency to create enabling environment to enact policies that would reduce the incessant cases of gender-based violence and engage women participation in governance.
She said partnership with the agency would fast track strategic advocacy campaign messages to key policy makers and articulate women to have a voice in the society.
Responding, Mr Joseph Lengman, the Director General, Plateau Peace Building Agency, noted that building partnership with NGOs and Civil Society Organisations would ensure great likelihood of peace, a major criterion of development was achieved.
He said that women were under represented in the polity which was affecting their integration and contributions at key decisions at all levels in the society.
“We have a massive disequilibrium in women representation which is a reflection of the patriarchal society we live in.
“Our new agency is ready to partner with NGOs and CSOs to integrate women in decision making and enhance their participation in development process,’’ he said.
He said the VAWG observatory committee, which was established by the Nigeria Social Development Programme (NSRP), would be given the necessary support to discharge its duties despite the end of their funding support from the organisation.
“We would chart a new basis of engagement and develop a framework once we have the necessary documents and formal request from the organisation,’’ he said. (NAN)
MAA/DS/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola