Create State-Wide Sexual Assaults Referral Centre, Lawyers Alert Urges Benue Governor

Some participants at the press conference to seek for a  framework for  Sexual Assaults Referral Centre in Benue State recently.

Lawyers Alert, a non-profit group, has urged Benue State Governor Rev Fr Dr. Hyacinth Alia to establish a framework for the state's Sexual Assaults Referral Centre (SARC).

SARC is a specialized medical and support facility where survivors of sexual assault can receive medical care, evidence collection (forensic examinations), counselling, and support services including access to justice.

Barrister Solumtochukwu Precious Ozobulu, Lawyers Alert's Senior Legal Officer made the call at a press conference and also urged the governor to expedite action on the review of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law in Benue state. 

She noted that 80 percent of human rights violations in Benue State are gender-based related and that less than 10 percent of these survivors of gender-based violence access justice.

Lawyers Alert said Sexual and Gender-Based Violence survivors in Benue State could not access justice in spite of the passage of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law 2019.

"The newly elected governor of Benue in his inaugural speech unveiled a gamut of promises including the establishment of Sexual Assault Referral Center (SARC), Resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons to their ancestral homes, signing up on OGP for fiscal transparency, tackling insecurity challenges, the revival of agricultural production. We want him to expedite action on all these promises", Solumtochukwu-Ozobulu.

"We call for an urgent review of the VAPP Law in order to enhance access to justice for vulnerable persons especially women and girls. The review of the law will benefit over 100, 000 (one hundred thousand) women and girls who lack access to justice and other benefits of this legislation immensely."

The 8th Benue State Assembly passed the VAPP law 2019 which criminalized all forms of violence against persons. According to Solumtochukwu Ozobulu, Lawyers Alert is working with certain members of the 10th Benue Assembly to see that the law is reviewed. Solumtochukwu Ozobulu said the passage of this law sought to protect vulnerable persons, especially Women and girls.

However, the implementation of this laudable legislation has not been as smooth as earlier envisaged. Lawyers Alert said, "Despite the passage of this law, violence against persons especially Women and girls has persisted and sadly, survivors of gender-based violence in Benue State hardly access justice owing to limitations and gaps in the legislation."

 "It is estimated that over 80 percent of human rights violations in Benue State are gender-based violence related. Interestingly, less than 10 percent of these survivors of gender-based violence access justice."

Lawyers Alert said this situation defeats the aim and purpose of the law as passed because of certain gaps that exist in the legislation. "The law did not provide for the establishment of a sexual Assault Referral Centre and the modus of operation of the centre. No monitoring committee for the Law towards ensuring its effective implementation. Ultimately, no trust fund to be used in implementing the law and protection of victims and survivors."

"These centres are designed to provide comprehensive care to survivors while respecting their rights and privacy. After a protracted engagement with the Ministries of Women Affairs, Justice and other relevant government agencies, the Centre was finally established and commissioned in January of 2023 with much fanfare and glamour. Apart from the physical structure, nothing is on the ground to facilitate the functionality of the SARC."

"There is no equipment, no specialists, support staff and other important resources that can activate the centre to fulfil its need for survivors of gender-based violence as intended. Ironically, as the delay in the take-off of the SARC persists, the cases and incidences of gender-based violence continue to rise in the face of an acute shortage of support for the survivors and victims of sexual assault and other forms of gender-based violence. It is pertinent that we ask for the operationalization of the SARC as a matter of urgency."