Osinbajo Calls For Prompt Action On Sexual Abuse As FG Opens Offenders’ Register

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has urged Nigerians to report cases of sexual harassment and abuses to the police for prompt action, Naijaparry reports.

Osinbajo said this at the opening of the Nigeria Sexual Offender Register which will contain the names and pictures of persons convicted of sexual abuses.

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) unveiled the register in Abuja on Monday in conjunction with the European Union and the Nigeria Police Force, among other partners.

Osinbajo, who was represented at the event by the Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Dayo Apata, said that sexual abusers are identified and punished.

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Osinbajo said: “Although times and contexts may differ, women and girls all the world experience rape and sexual violence abuse but only a small percentage of these get reported because when women come forward, they are still called liars, troublemakers and their names are blacklisted. This is why the exact number of sexual abuse victims is difficult to confirm.

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“While we must ensure that abusers are identified and punished, the greater part of the effort should go into ensuring that we prevent the abuse from happening in the first place by proactively identifying the risk factors. With the assistance of strategic partners like the European Union and the British Council, the Presidency in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development has been supporting the establishment of sexual and gender-based violence response team to ensure the effective coordination of responses in Nigeria.

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“There are steps that we all must take to avoid all forms of abuse which include challenging degrading references to women, opposing the culture of blaming victims and if you witness a sexual assault, call the police.”

The NAPTIP Director-General, Julie Okah-Donli, said anyone arrested for rape would have their information displayed on the register.

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