Borno’s Deputy Commissioner of Police DCP Ahmad Bello has asked for tougher regulations to prevent rape and other sexual abuse charges from being withdrawn in court by victims’ family.
He made the appeal in Maiduguri while speaking at a stakeholders’ consultative meeting on Enhancing Gender-Responsive Security Operations and Community Dialogue, which was organized by UN Women in partnership with the Borno Ministry of Women Affairs.
Bello, who represented the Borno Police Command at the conference, said: “Another big issue that must be addressed is the culture of silence and stigmatization of rape and other sexual assault victims.
”We have seen instances where, while a sexual violence case is progressing, prosecutors will get court affidavits from victim relations saying they want to withdraw the case.
”Such intentions to withdraw have to do with fear of stigmatisation.
”In many instances, the victims want justice but are put in a dilemma by their relatives,” he said.
Bello advocated for rules that would postpone requests for withdrawal of cases under KIV for a length of time to allow the victim to make a final decision.
He asked UN Women and other stakeholders to support legislation to close some of the gaps in the fight against sexual and gender-based violence in society.
