By Mayowa Adeniran
Nigerian students have put their voices out against and recommended ways to strengthen mitigation, reporting, and quick intervention mechanisms, against Sexual and Gender-based Violence in tertiary institutions.
Their recommendations for a Standard Operating Procedure to eliminate SGBV within the university community were communicated in a survey put together by the Women Advocates Research and Documentation Center (WARDC) with support from Action Aid Nigeria.
In commemoration of the 75th Human Rights Day, the Center for Human Rights, Faculty of Law of the University of Lagos, organized a Human Rights Day Conference themed ‘ The Global Yearning for Freedom: Our History, Our Present, and Our Future’.
The conference had in attendance about 1,500 students, lecturers as well as workers within the university community.
Speaking at the event, The Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos Professor, Prof. Ayodele Atsenuwa, condemned violence against girls in higher institutions. She reiterated the commitment of UNILAG to protect the rights of girls in the school.
The Representative of Action Aid, Anawiyat Yakubu called on the Nigerian government and relevant stakeholders to respect human rights as protected by the constitution; and prioritize the Standard Operating Procedure after its collation. According to Yakubu, the SOP will further protect the rights of female students and prosecute SGBV offenders.
In a panel session, Mr Lanre Arogundade, Founding Director of the International Press Center; and Prof Abigail Ogwezzy- Ndisika elucidated the need for students to understand and contribute to the National Gender Policy by adequately submitting their contributions to the Standard Operating Procedure. Mr Arogundade described the gap between the policy and its implementation.
While commending the University for its positive outlook on addressing SGBV cases, Prof Ogwezzy-Ndisika asked for more awareness about reporting outlets that can protect the voices of victims of SGBV.
