CSO Assisted 30,000 Sexual Abuse Survivors in 20 States.

A Civil Society Organisation(CSO), The Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption, said it had assisted over 30,000 sexual abuse survivors in Nigeria during the implementation of its programme in 20 states, its Director of Programmes, Chikodi Onyemerela, said on Tuesday.

He revealed this in Abuja during the European Union’s 11th edition of the “Dissemination, lesson learning and close-out event” of a Civil Society Organisation(CSO), Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption in Nigeria, funded by the EU and implemented by the British Council.

Onyemerela said over 12,000 indigent citizens received various forms of legal aid and assistance during the period of its implementation.

He said it was important to underscore that ROLAC provided direct funding and technical support for the operation of 39 Sexual Assault Referral Centres across 20 states of the federation and was responsible for the establishment of new ones in Anambra, Edo, the Federal Capital Territory and Lagos.

“The programme also enabled the state-level adoption of the national anti-corruption strategy, and improved state public procurement processes,” he stated.

Meanwhile, the Ambassador of the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Samuela Isopi, said the EU would remain committed to supporting the democratic efforts of Nigeria

The EU support, he said, was predicated on its conviction that “sustainable peace, development and prosperity are truly possible only when founded on respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law.”

She said;

“About 200 projects and initiatives are currently funded by the EU around the world, seeking to promote democracy and the rule of law and benefit the most vulnerable in society particularly women and children so that they can have access to basic needs such as education and healthcare, and live free from violence and strife.”

She affirmed that the EU would continue supporting the consolidation of the rule of law and anti-corruption process in Nigeria with technical and financial support and political engagement.

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), represented by the Director, (Administration of Criminal Justice and Reform Department), Leticia Ayoola-Daniels, said the Federal Government was able to make laudable achievements in the reform of its justice sector in line with international best practices due to the support of ROLAC.

cc: Punch Ng