The Federal Government says is focusing significant attention on the issue of sexual and gender based violence adding is therefore working towards the establishment of specialized courts and Judicial Divisions to focus on sexual and gender-based violence.

Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN made this disclosure while speaking at a virtual session on “Special Event on Gender Dimensions of Criminal Justice Responses to Terrorism” organized by the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime as part of events commemorating the International Women Day, held at Kyoto, Japan on March 8.

Malami informs that Nigeria also has developed a National Action Plan on the Implementation of Security Council Resolution 1325 on the Women, Peace and Security agenda which is relevant to efforts to respond to the needs and promote the role of women in efforts to address terrorism

Malami who observed with dismay that terrorists groups have continued to kidnap and commit sexual and gender-based violence against women and girls said that preventing these crimes and bringing those who commit these acts to justice remains a priority of the federal government under President Muhammadu Buhari.

He said the current administration also knows well that giving a voice to women is an important aspect of development as women are important agents of positive change.

He said “The Nigerian National Action Plan for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism” notes the important role women play not only as policy-makers and law enforcement officers, but also wives and mothers in preventing violent extremism and in de-radicalisation, rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders.

“Another emerging area of grave concern is the abduction and kidnapping of teenagers in boarding houses for ransom.

“The perpetrators targeted this group of people possibly to scare them from schooling. This is indeed a sad situation.

“The Nigerian armed forces and law enforcement agencies are working day and night to combat insecurity, terrorism, kidnapping and abduction of people in the country.

“We must work to prevent both male and female perpetrators from carrying out these acts and support those who have been victims.” The Attorney –General and Minister of Justice said.

But Malami recalled that last year he inaugurated the Inter-Ministerial Management Committee on Eradication of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence with the hope that these will be important tools in helping Nigeria to address the crimes.

He stressed the importance of collaboration with relevant stakeholders, of which the Complex Case Group under the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice leads in the efforts to bringing suspected terrorists to justice.

He says this also works to include sexual violence related charges against Boko Haram suspects in collaboration with the military, police and other security service investigators from the multiagency Joint Investigation Centre, in North-East Nigeria.

This is contained in a statement by Dr. Umar Jibrilu Gwandu, Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations, Office of the Attorney General of the Federation issued to newsmen on Monday.

The in the statement said in partnership with UNODC as well as the European Union, the Federal Government launched the “Nigeria Training Module on Gender Dimensions in the Criminal Justice: Response to Terrorism”.

According to him, the Module provides practical guidance based on Nigeria’s legal framework as well as international and African regional laws and good practices to support Nigerian officials in addressing the issues of gender in the counter-terrorism context.

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