This archive report was first published on 26 November 2019.
On November 25, 2019, Nigeria's National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons took a significant step in the fight against sexual violence by launching a sex offender register.
The register, which was launched by Sadiya Umar-Farouq, minister of humanitarian affairs, disaster management and social development, aims to document the names of sexual violence culprits and bring them to justice.
According to Umar-Farouq, sexual violence has been a major challenge in Nigeria, particularly in the northern part of the country. She noted that cases of violence, including gender-based ones, are often not reported or investigated, leaving women and adolescents vulnerable to abuse.
"Cases of violence, including gender-based ones, are exhibited by people and are not being reported nor investigated," Umar-Farouq said. "Women and adolescents are being violated on many occasions at different places due to their helpless state and in many cases, the culprits are people known to the victims."
The launch of the register has been welcomed by international organizations, including the European Union delegation to Nigeria, which has called for collaborative efforts to combat sexual violence.
According to a report from the United Nations Children's Fund, one in four girls and one in 10 boys in Nigeria have been victims of sexual violence.
