Federal Government to establish special courts, judicial divisions on GBV – Malami

The Federal Government has announced plans to establish specialised courts and judicial divisions that will focus on sexual and gender-based violence (GBV).

This was announced by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, while speaking at a virtual session on `Special Event on Gender Dimensions of Criminal Justice Responses to Terrorism’ on Monday.

The event was organised by the UN office on Drug and Crime as part of events commemorating the 2021 International Women Day holding at Kyoto, Japan.

“We also in collaboration with the military, police and other security service investigators from the multiagency Joint Investigation Centre, in North-East worked to include sexual violence related charges against Boko Haram suspects’,” Malami said when explaining steps Nigerian government is taking to bring terrorists into justice and help Nigeria address gender based crimes.

He said that the Buhari-led administration is deliberate about giving a voice to women I order to enhance the development of the country.

The AGF also addressed the recent insecurity of school kidnappings.

“Preventing these crimes and bringing those who commit these acts to justice remains a priority of the government of President Muhammadu Buhari.

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

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

“We must work to prevent both male and female perpetrators from carrying out these acts and support those who have been victims,” he said.

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.

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.

He said Nigeria also has developed a National Action Plan on the Implementation of Security Council Resolution 1325 on the Women, Peace and Security agenda which he said was relevant to respond to the needs and promote the role of women in efforts to address terrorism.(NAN)