The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), has revealed that over 2,100 sexual and gender-based violence cases were prosecuted in 2020.
Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen, made the disclosure in Abuja on Saturday, December 4, 2021, during the presentation of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) VAPP Act 2015 implementation report.
She explained that the data was gotten from the Nigeria Police Force, adding that there were 155 convictions on sexual and gender-based violence cases in the country.
The report noted that there was a surge in sexual and gender-based violence all over Nigeria between 2019 and 2020, and over 14,970 survivors received help from sexual assault referral centres.
The minister decried the rate of physical, psychological and emotional violence against women and children in recent times, and called for it’s total obliteration with victims being encouraged to speak out.
“It is time we break the cultural cycle of silence and encourage survivors to speak out while giving them all the support they need and ensuring that justice is being served,” she entreated.
In her remarks, Dr Fatima Waziri-Azi, Director-General of NAPTIP, said that the agency would continue to work with its sister agencies in ensuring that survivors of sexual and gender-based violence get all the support and help they need.
