Hanan Buhari launches NGO, says rape cases under-reported in Nigeria

Hanan, daughter of President Muhammadu Buhari, says there is a low reportage of sexual and gender-based violence in the country.

She said this on Friday at the inauguration of the Hanan Buhari Foundation at the presidential villa, Abuja.

Hanan said the “rape culture” in the country had been tolerated for decades and it was time to speak out for the emancipation of women’s rights.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), she added that the crime has always been shrouded in secrecy owing to ingrained patriarchal sex stereotypes, structural and systemic oppression women face, among others. The president’s daughter said such incidences must be stopped.

“Report revealed that the rape incidences for women and girls is on an increasing trend from 63 percent in 2015 to 72.1 percent in 2016 and 69.3 percent in 2017,” Hanan was quoted to have said.

“In spite of increase in activism, cases of rape are still grossly underreported. According to data from Nigeria’s National Anti-Trafficking Agency, only 32 cases were reported between 2019 and 2020 for fear of stigmatisation.

“Undoubtedly, we need to rise up and break this culture of silence, especially now that more women are beginning to have courage to speak out about their victimisation. Women and children’s right to live free from violence is dependent on the protection of their human rights and a strong chain of justice.

“In spite of acts such as Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (VAPP) 2015 and various states’ violence against persons prohibition laws in Nigeria, which are all aimed at addressing issues of rape and other forms of sexual violence, enforcement of its laws is still sorely lacking in far too many cases.”

Also speaking, Boss Mustapha, secretary to the government of the federation, said it was important to talk about how to deal with the scourge of rape, especially at the family, community and the national level.

“It has been a major challenge and we must set aside the doctrines of tradition and deal decisively with the culprits,” he said.

“The punishment must also be punitive in such a way that it will serve as a deterrent to people that will ever contemplate defiling children or rape anyone.”