As over 10,000 victims counseled in six years, the statistics revealed that over 60 percent of rape victims in Nigeria are children between 0-14 years, while a further 15-20 percent survivors are boys.
This was the disclosed at the 5th Network Meeting of Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Nigeria that ended in Abuja by the Country Director, Pathfinder International, Dr. Farouk Jega.
The three-day event organised by the British Council’s Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption and funded by the European Union brought together relevant stakeholders to discuss the challenges, successes and learning in the establishment as well as implementation of SARCs in Nigeria.
Jega who was represented by the Technical Adviser on Gender, Pathfinder International, Ms. Favour Adam’s, stated that SARC functions in higher capacity than all other hospitals in the country, as they treat, counsel and conducts follow up for the victims.
He also said that the SARC service is very important because forensic examination provides evidence in court and it exposes the actions of rape also determining the manner and time of attack.
He added that the Sexual Assault Referral Centre serves as a response gaps for victims of sexual assault with a total of 15 centers in Adamawa, Akwa-Ibom, Anambra, Borno, Enugu, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Lagos, Niger and Yobe states.
