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Caritas Nigeria Urges Government to Speed Up Trial of Gender-Based Violence Perpetrators

Officials of Caritas Nigeria during the 16 Days of Activism Against GBV in the Archdiocese of Abuja. Credit: Caritas Nigeria

Caritas Nigeria, the development and humanitarian arm of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), has called on the Nigerian government to speed up the prosecution and punishment of individuals involved in Gender-Based Violence (GBV) cases in the West African country.

Speaking to ACI Africa on the sidelines of the 16 Days of Activism Against GBV in the Archdiocese of Abuja, Caritas Nigeria Gender Focal person, Mr. Charles Aneni said delays in the judicial process is an injustice to GBV victims.

“The government needs to act with speed in the judgment delivery on GBV perpetrators. Delays in judgment delivery is making survivors cry out that justice delayed most times becomes justice denied,” Mr. Aneni told ACI Africa on Wednesday, November 29.

He added, “We need the government to step up. We hope that the mobile courts that the government is proposing will come to light as soon as possible.”

The Caritas Nigeria official commended the government for their assistance to GBV victims, and added, “There however is still room for improvement and that is why civil society organizations, NGOs and faith-based organizations are to be the foot soldiers to reach the place where government cannot reach and also to sensitize the public on the dangers of this social menace.”

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Caritas Nigeria has been organizing road shows to raise awareness on GBV and the need for victims to speak out.

The development arm of the Church h in Nigeria is also engaging stakeholders and the general public to say no to rape, as well as the physical and emotional violence.  

Also speaking to ACI Africa November 29, Sr. Maria Dooshima, a Senior Programme Officer at Caritas Nigeria said that GBV is a big global challenge. 

Sr. Dooshima said that the entity had received numerous reports of maltreatments, insults, abuse emotionally or mentally, harassment by husbands, colleagues and random men and sometimes women. 

“My advice for victims of GBV is to speak out when you feel that you are being maltreated, when you are being abused or assaulted or maltreated in any form at all,” she said.

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He added, “Do not keep quiet because keeping quiet does not solve the problem. It is only when you speak out that you get help.”

Abah Anthony John is a Nigerian Journalist with great enthusiasm and interest for Catholic Church Communication and Media Apostolate. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Mass Communication from Benue State University, Makurdi, Benue State Nigeria. He has vast experience in Print,  Electronic and Multi-Media Production.