The Federal Government, under the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, has announced plans to implement mobile courts to combat Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) and related issues.
Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohaneye, shared this initiative during a briefing in Abuja on Monday.
She emphasized the potential benefits of mobile courts in supporting the government’s advocacy efforts against SGBV.
The advocacy efforts have been ongoing without the desired results.
This introduction of mobile courts is among the reforms and targets she aims to achieve in her first 100 days in office.
“When victims report, police will come in for arrest, we will take the victim straight to the hospital to confirm and then the mobile courts come in to ensure justice is served.”
She emphasized the necessity for a fresh approach to interventions aimed at benefiting women at the grassroots level.
She noted:
Ohaneye underlined the significance of collaborating with women cooperatives to execute empowerment projects, with a focus on sustainability beyond the initial government assistance.
“The narrative has changed in this ministry. We have decided to forge ahead with more sustainable moves that will impact our women and children.
“Sanitary towels being given to girls in some schools from time to time is not sustainable. We have decided that instead of giving them the sanitary towels, we set up sanitary pad production ventures. Sharing gas cylinders to rural women is also not sustainable. The ministry is concerned about who refills the gas stove for the rural woman after the first refill. We have decided to, instead, give them charcoal burners and biogas stoves among others”.
The minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting Nigerian women, girls, and boys.
She said this during a meeting with student union representatives held alongside the briefing.
She also stressed her dedication to ensuring justice in cases of sexual harassment throughout the country.