Julie Okah-Donli,
Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in
Persons, has attributed the prevalence of rape cases in Nigeria to parental
negligence in training the male child as well as delay in serving justice to
rapists.
She told
SaharaReporters that Nigeria's socio-cultural climate supports female
subjugation which can lead to increased incidents of rape.
She said,
"Parental negligence and lack of proper training of male children;
one-sidedness in cultural orientation with excessive attention on the girl
child. Non-existence of Violent Against Persons Laws in some states,
sociocultural climate that support female subjugation, low reportage of cases
of violence and rape to avoid the resultant stigmatisation and delayed justice
in some cases occasioned by prolonged proceedings."
The NAPTIP DG said
as part of solutions to protect the female child, there has to be deliberate
attempts to domesticate the the Violence Against Persons Act (2015) in all
states of the federation.
She added,
"Increased and continuous reorientation of parents on the need for gender
balance in the exposure of their children to home training.
"Increased
advocacy for the domestication of the Violence Against Persons Act (2015) in
all the states of the federation or promulgation of similar legislations.
"Intensified
sensitization against gender-based violence and rape and continuous capacity
building for relevant personnel on concurrent duties.
"Establishment
of special courts for expedited trial of rape and violence cases and
strengthening reporting systems and publicising the channels of
reporting."
She noted that
community had roles to play in ensuring victims, who come forward are not
stigmatised and silenced.
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According to her,
communities need sensitisation through dialogue and strategic persuasive
communication, establishment of schools or avenues for extensive training on
balanced parenting and increased advocacy with community leaders and
traditional institution.
Okah-Donli called
for capacity building for caregivers and psychological support providers and
canvassed for the increased use of the Sex Offenders Register to name and shame
predators as well as the inclusion of rape and violence issues prevention in
school curriculum.
She called on
parents to remain alert and redirect stigma to "perpetrators rather than
victims" of rape.
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