By The World Satellite.
International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Rivers State and her partners have called for the establishment of sexual referral centres, with rapid response teams attached, comprising of the Police, doctors, lawyers, social welfare officers, psychologist, psychiatrist, to reduce the victim of trauma and aid the preservation of evidence for Prosecution of perpetrators.
Chairperson of FIDA; Ngozi Ighosevbe, who stated this to newsmen in Port Harcourt, equally called on the Chief Judge of the state to designate a special fast track court to handle Gender Based violence matters in the state, while adding that the evil act ravaging lives of young women and children both boys and girls in the communities should be tackled with more holistic and aggressive approach.
“FIDA Nigeria strongly objects to this evil trend of the incessant abuse and sexual molestation of women and children and we demand speedy and decisive action”, Ngozi said.
Also, FIDA urged government at all levels to declare a state of emergency on the incessant killings, sexual molestation of women and children across the Federation. “Government needs to declare a state of emergency in gender-based violence, so it is tackled forthwith, most efficiently and effectively across all states of the Federation.
“Any parent, neighbours relation, guardian, who conceals the act of rape, defilement cases and all forms of violence against children and women, either to protect their marriage, family name, to protect the victim or perpetrator for any reason will be brought to book and be prosecuted by the law”, Ngozi remarked
On her part, President, Medical Women Association of Nigeria, Rivers State; Dr Vetty Agala, noted that medically, sexual abuse causes psychological problems to the child, as well as damage the genital tracts of the child, which may lead to several health complications on the victim.
“Victims of sexual molestation are bound to face psychological problems most especially children because it affects their mental, physical, emotional state, and due to the shock and the severe pains experienced, it may lead them to attempt suicide. It leads to unwanted pregnancy, abortion, bleeding and so many complications during delivery”, Dr. Agala stressed.
Furthermore, she emphasized that Medical Women and her partners are advocating for free medical and legal access for victims of rape and defilement, as most victims can hardly afford money to access medical treatment and legal clinic’s.
Also, Ebikeme Itonyo; Father of the twenty-one-year-old final year student of Law, Rivers State University; Maltida Mark Itonyo who was brutally raped and murdered in her hostel room on December 9th 2019, demanded justice for the gruesome murder of his daughter. He lamented that till date, he is yet to get any vital information from the Police on who is responsible for the death of Maltida after numerous autopsies have been conducted on his daughter’s corpse.
Itonyo called on the support of the state government, in ensuring that his daughters’ killers are apprehended and brought to book.
On one hand, Mrs Blessing Itoro whose ten-year-old daughter was defiled by their family friend, one Eniobong Essien at Ubaama in Oyigbo local government area of the state, also demanded justice for her defiled daughter.
