Rights commission boss wants review of rape laws

Chairman of the National Human Right Commission (NHRC) Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, yesterday called for urgent review of the extant laws covering rape and defilement saying the defilement provisions endangers the lives of young girls.

He made the call in Abuja at the second series of a oneday policy dialogue on gender-based violence affecting young people in Nigeria organised by the Women Arise for Change Initiative.

“There is the need for urgent review of the nation’s criminal laws covering sexual abuses especially of younger women. Those charged with rape offences get life jail term if convicted, however this is for the adult females as sexual assault on young girls is taken as defilement and carry sentences between seven to 14 years jail term,” Odinkalu said.

According to him, “the way things are in Nigeria someone can be detained for defilement and upon conviction may have to be released if he may have spent the number of years of conviction, undergoing trials in detention.”

He said the review also needs to cover other items used in the sexual assault apart from the male genitals.

President of Women Arise Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin said, “the rate of gender-based violence among youth is on the increase and statistics are staggering. The Nigerian youth represent the future of this country and there must be concerted efforts to reduce the incident of gender based violence among youths in Nigeria.”