A coalition of civil society groups in Nigeria have launched a campaign to push for systemic change on s3xual and Gender-based Violence within the country.





They also involved the declaration of a state of emergency on SGBV in Nigeria.



The groups, TechHerNG, Girl Child Africa, Connected Development, Enough is Enough Nigeria, Stand to finish Rape, SilverChipFox, Yiaga Africa, Dorothy Njemanze Foundation, and Education as Vaccine, said a social media and physical campaign register to force systemic action against SGBV within the country had been launched.

“Starting Thursday, June 4, there'll be posters on social media inviting citizens to call their legislators and ask what they’re doing to guard women and girls. We also are working with some lawmakers for urgent legislative action.



“On Friday, June 5 from 9am, we'll converge at the police station in Lagos and Abuja (these two locations are confirmed) presenting letters to the leadership of the Nigeria police calling for prompt investigation and conclusion of rape and every one SGBV cases.



“We are going to be submitting a memo to the Nigerian Governors’ Forum and therefore the Federal council calling for an efficient and sustained institutional response to SGBV in Nigeria.



“Our key asks are as follows: Domestication of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act and Child Rights Act altogether states of the federation; establishment of s3xual abuse Referral Centres in every state backed with a coordinated, sustainably-funded support system; criminalization and prompt state-led prosecution of SGBV cases within, no matter requests or interference by the victim’s family or interested parties.



“Implementation of functional Family Support Units and Force Gender Units at the state level that are well equipped to deal with SGBV cases; the imposition of public disciplinary measures against officials of the NPF and state prosecutors that mishandle cases of SGBV.”