INSTITUTIONALIZE COMPENSATION FUND FOR VICTIMS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE – GRACE TASK FG

APPLAUD TEARS FROM THE GRAVE PUBLICATION 
By Vincess Okushi 
The Chairperson, of House of Representatives Press Corps, Comrade Grace Ike is advocating for a government-funded compensation scheme for victims of rape and violent crimes in Nigeria, saying victims are emotionally and psychologically traumatised daily.

She made the call during a remark at the launch of ‘Tears from the Grave’, by the Men Against Rape Foundation, MARF, Wednesday in Abuja.

Ike who also doubles as the Vice Chairman, of Correspondents Chapel, Nigerian Union of Journalists, Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, said the publication is apt as it’s dedicated to the memory of victims of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, SGBV.
Adding that compensation fund could serve as a succor for victims to restart their lives and demand its urgent attention. 
The statistics are alarming—a recent survey in Nigeria revealed that 31.4 per cent of sexually active adolescent females and 5.7% of males experienced forced sex (rape) at sexual initiation.

Shockingly, female adolescents living with HIV are disproportionately affected by this violence.
It is truly heartbreaking when individuals, regardless of age or gender, fall victim to such abhorrent acts. The normalization of sexual violence is spreading like wildfire, leaving victims in unimaginable physical and psychological anguish.

Every day, we are confronted with distressing accounts of girls and women enduring unspeakable trauma due to sexual violence. What is even more disturbing is the growing trend of perpetrators committing murder, and killing their victims after these heinous acts—an act that must be condemned in the strongest terms.
SGBV knows no boundaries—it transcends age, ethnicity, colour, socioeconomic status, and geography.

While the list of victims in Nigeria is extensive, many cases remain unreported due to fear of stigma and inadequate support systems.
Despite existing legislation imposing severe penalties for SGBV offences, prosecution rates remain dismally low. Victims often shy away from reporting due to fear of stigma and the arduous legal process.
I am particularly troubled by the absence of a government-funded compensation scheme for victims of sexual and violent crimes in Nigeria. This is a critical gap that demands urgent attention from our policymakers.

The Chairperson while applauding the foundation over the publication also appealed to the National and State Assemblies, the CSOs, to establish special courts basically for sexual offences to ensure justice for SGBV victims, across the country.

I call upon our lawmakers at the national and state levels to prioritize the establishment of Sexual Offenses Courts across the country, modelled after successful initiatives in Lagos and other regions.

Furthermore, civil society organizations such as the Men Against Rape Foundation play a pivotal role in advocating for the rights of SGBV victims and ensuring they receive the justice and support they deserve.

Once again, I want to express my deep appreciation to Mr Lemmy Ugegbe and the dedicated team at the Men Against Rape Foundation for not just coming up with this initiative but for your relentless pursuit of justice.

I have followed your trajectory, especially in the case of Karen, a teenage victim who also lost her life as a result of rape and many other cases. You people are doing an extremely difficult job but I pray that God will continue to give you the courage, strength, financial enablement and grace to accomplish this onerous task.

Together, let us stand united against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence. We must continue to strive for a society where every individual lives free from the fear of violence and injustice.

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