The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has recorded 158,517 complaints on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) against women and children 2021.

The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Tony Ojukwu, made this known in Maiduguri in his message at the Call to Action workshop to develop the North-East roadmap on protection from gender-based violence in emergencies, organised by UN Population Fund (UNFPA).

Mr Ojukwu was represented by Ngozi Okore, a deputy director of research in the commission.

According to him, the commission has created a counselling unit in addition to other departments handling women, children and vulnerable groups to address the overwhelming complaints to the commission.

Mr Ojukwu also said that a designated tool free lines and digital platform was launched to direct a victim to a responder.

“In line with our mandate of protection and enforcement of human rights, we are delighted to be members of the Call to Action on protection from GBV in emergencies, and therefore pledged our total commitment to realisation of the objectives of call to action.

“We wish to commend UNFPA for this event in order to bring to the fore the need and way forward to addressing GBV in emergencies,” Mr Ojukwu added. 

(NAN)