Professor IAO Ujah, FMCOG, mni Mrs M. Ikwuta-Adah, B.Sc

Professor JO. Onah, PhD Mr. J. Idoko ,ND

International Centre for the advancement

of Reproductive Health (CIFARH)No. 4B Tafawa Balewa Street

Jos. Plateau State, Nigeria

CIFARH is an acronym for International centre for the advancement of reproductive health.

A registered non-governmental organization(NGO) established for the promotion of reproductive & maternal health through Service, Training, Advocacy, and Research (STAR),

☻VISION: COMMITTED TO THE PROMOTION OF REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH & RIGHTS IN AFRICA THROUGH SERVICE, TRAINING, ADVOACY & RESEARCH (STAR)

☻MISSION: TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE IMPROVEMENT OF MATERNAL & REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND RIGHTS OF WOMEN IN NIGERIA TOWARDS ATTAINING THE MDGs

Promote safe motherhood

Design, promote, monitor and evaluate effective family planning.

Develop strategic adolescent reproductive health programmes through sensitization, advocacy, mobilization, counseling and service in the North of Nigeria.

Collaborate with other agencies in the efforts to eliminate harmful traditional practices including FGM, hot baths, Gishiri cut and sexual violence

Provide information and counseling services for prevention and management of STDs, HIV/AIDS.

Research into obstacles to effective reproductive health & maternal services in Northern Nigeria

Design, Promote and counsel on the value of screening for cervical cancer.Conduct research into reproductive health issues and the environment in the North of Nigeria

Design and implement research counseling and service programmes for the menopause.

Sexual violence against women (SVAW) is a very serious social and health problem.The incidence of Sexual Violence is on the rise. Although various countries have laws to punish perpetrators of this act, its enforcement is generally believed to be harphazard In Nigeria both criminal codes have provisions for punishment for rape and attempted rape

The Southern Nigeria criminal code defines rape as “unlawful carnal knowledge of a woman or a girl, without her consent

The penal code of northern Nigeria defines rape in the same manner. However, the penal Code provides that sexual intercourse by a man with his wife is not rape, if she has attained puberty.

Both criminal codes impose life imprisonment with or without caning. The Nigerian criminal law addresses a number of sexual offenses.

This is part of a larger study undertaken in the North of Nigeria to document various aspects of sexual violence

Specifically To determine whether cases of sexual violence were recognised criminal offences and reported to the Police

To determine the most common cases of sexual violence reported to the Police

To determine effectiveness of the implementation of the provisions o f the Law by number of cases prosecuted and convicted.To use the study findings to advocate for effective legislative and legal reforms that will ensure strict adherence to the laws on sexual violence.

A Structured questionnaire was designed.

Data collection in selected Police Divisions in Plateau State Police Command.

Details of cases of Sexual violence reported to the Police in twelve (12)Divisions of Riyom, Bukuru, Nasarawa Gwom, A, B and C Divisions, CID, Jengre, Barkin Ladi, Vom, Ratiya, Laranto in six LGAs (Riyom, Jos South, Jos North, Bassa, Mangu and Barkin ladi) between 2001 and 2005.

Information obtained included, the Characteristics of all cases reported to the Police during the period

A total of sixty three (63) cases of sexual violence were reported from twelve (12) Police Divisions in Six LGAs of Plateau State

AGE DISTRIBUTION <15 years 30 (65%)15- 19years 44(95%)

DISTRIBUTION OF ASSAILANTSMales 57(91.9%)

Females 5(8.1%)

DISTRIBUTION BY RELIGIONCHRISITANITY 45 (75%) ISLAM 15(25%)

RAPE was the commonest cases of SEXUAL VIOLENCE REPORTED=

54 (87.1%)

WHO MADE REPORT TO THE POLICE?PARENTS 70%VICTIMS 21%

TEENAGERS AND YOUNG ADULTS ACCOUNTED FOR 70% OF THE ASSAILANTS.

50% OF THE ASSAILANTS WERE KNOWN NEIGHBOURS

DISTRIBUTION OF ASSAILANTS BY ETHNIC GROUP

HAUSA/FULANI 25% IBO 14.5% BEROMS 9.7%

MAJORITY OF THE ASSAILANTS HAD NO REASONS FOR COMMITING SEXUAL ASSAULT

A FEW ASSAILANTS GAVE “TEMPTATION”, “WORK OF DEVIL” AND “HEAVY FINANCIAL COMMITMENT ON THE GIRL” AS RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS

In 39(62.9%) cases of sexual assault, the Police made provision for medical Treatment

ASSAILANTS DETAINED 53 (86.9%)

ASSAILANTS CHARGED TO COURT 29 (46.8%)

CASES ABANDONED BY VICTIMS/PARENTS 56%

CASES SETTLED–OUT-OF COURT 12 NO. OF CASES CONVICTED 11(20.0%)

NO. OF DEATHS 0

CASES OF SEXUAL ASSAULT ARE BEING REPORTED TO THE POLICE, ALTHOUGH THIS MAY BE THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG

CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS ARE AT HIGH RISKS OF SEXUAL ASSULT

THE PREPONDRANCE OF ASSAILANTS WERE ADOLESCENTS MALES

MOST CASES OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE ARE KNOWN NEIGHBOURS

ONLY 20% REPORTED CASES OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE WERE CONVICTED AND FINED.

ADVOCACY ON LEGAL REFORMS TO ADDRESS CASES OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE MUST BE UNDERTAKEN.

FURTHER RESEARCH IS NECESSARY TO FURTHER UNDERSTAND LEGAL ISSUES IN SEXUAL ASSAULT FOR EFFECTIVE INTERVENTION PLANS TO DISCOURAGE CASES OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE

THE SUPPORT OF THE PLATEAU STATE POLICE COMMAND IN CARRYING OUT THIS CHALLENGING RESEARCH IS HIGHLY APPREICATED BY CIFARH!