…Over 58,000 survivors assisted through SARCs as new digital safety measures take centre stage
The Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) Programme, funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by International IDEA, has reiterated its commitment to supporting Nigeria’s justice institutions in the fight against gender-based violence, especially in the face of growing digital threats.
At the 11th Network Conference of Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) in Abuja, stakeholders reflected on Nigeria’s progress in expanding access to survivor services and modernising the legal framework for emerging forms of violence.
Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, the Minister of Women Affairs, noted that Nigeria now has 50 SARCs across 24 states, assisting more than 58,000 clients, but emphasised that the centres are “still not enough to meet the scale and complexity of GBV.”
Roba Sharamo, IDEA’s Regional Director, praised Nigeria’s collaboration with international partners and urged for stronger laws to combat Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV).
The EU Ambassador, Gautier Mignot, confirmed that the bloc’s ongoing partnership with IDEA and the Ministry of Justice will expand legal protections and survivor services under a new €18 million SGBV-focused programme.
