Human rights groups have called on government at all levels to be more proactive on the protection of women and young girls against sexual abuse and domestic violence.
The groups, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the Committee for the Defense of Human Rights (CDHR), made the call in Abeokuta, at a rally organised to mark the year 2023 International Hiuman Rights Day with the theme: “Freedom, Equity and Justice for all.”
Addressing journalists at the rally, the Ogun state coordinator of NHRC, Olayinka Odibe, lamented inadequate sexual assault referral centres where victims can lodge their complaints.
She recounted the high rate of domestic violence and sexual assault on girls, saying, “All human beings are born equal in rights and in all things, no human being has control over the live of other people.
“Government must be more proactive on the issue of domestic violence. Many women are staying in abused marriages because they have nowhere else to go.
“Domestic violence is causing a lot of trouble. You can see how spouses are killing themselves recently.
“At the CSOs meeting we had recently, we concluded that the government must build shelters for victims of domestic violence.
“Also, the sexual assault referral centre that we have in Ogun state is just one and it is not adequate to take care of the population of the violated people in Ogun state,” Odibe said.
Also speaking, the national vice president of CDHR, Comrade Yinka Folarin, said Nigeria must imbibe the culture of promotion and respect for human rights.
