The Bauchi State House of Assembly has adopted a motion calling for the establishment of additional Sexual Assault Referral Centres across the state. This move aims to improve access to care for survivors of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence. The motion was presented by the Speaker, Abubakar Suleiman, who noted that the current single centre is inadequate to handle cases across the state. Bauchi State has 20 local government areas and a large, geographically dispersed population.
The existing Sexual Assault Referral Centre is domiciled at the Specialist Hospital in Bauchi. However, its location poses serious challenges to survivors, particularly those living in remote and hard-to-reach communities. Transportation costs, delays in accessing medical care, fear of stigma, and possible exposure of survivors' identities discourage victims from seeking urgent assistance. The Speaker urged the state government to establish additional centres to ensure timely, accessible, confidential, and comprehensive care for survivors.
The Speaker proposed that the state government establish at least two fully functional Sexual Assault Referral Centres in each senatorial district of the state as a first phase. He also called for adequate budgetary provisions for the centres and effective implementation by relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies. Furthermore, he urged sustained public sensitisation on sexual and gender-based violence to encourage survivors to seek help.
A member representing Sade constituency in Darazo Local Government, Lawal Dauda, contributed to the debate, stating that increasing cases of sexual assault are partly linked to inadequate punishment for perpetrators. He expressed concern that perpetrators are not serving sufficiently long prison terms. Dauda urged the House to adopt all the prayers contained in the motion, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive approach to address the issue.
The motion was prompted by an advocacy visit from the Azurfa Women and Youth Development Initiative, with support from Plan International. The initiative aims to improve access to medical treatment and other support services for survivors, particularly those living in hard-to-reach communities. The goal is to encourage survivors to seek timely care and preserve evidence needed for legal proceedings.
The House Committees on Health, Women Affairs, and Justice were urged to engage relevant stakeholders on the matter and report back to the House within 60 days. This will ensure that the proposed centres are established and functional, providing much-needed services to survivors of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in Bauchi State.
The establishment of additional Sexual Assault Referral Centres in Bauchi State is expected to enhance access to care for survivors, reduce the challenges they face, and encourage them to seek timely assistance. The move is a significant step towards addressing the issue of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in the state.
Key points
- The Bauchi State House of Assembly has adopted a motion to establish additional Sexual Assault Referral Centres across the state.
- The existing single centre is inadequate to handle cases across the state, particularly for those living in remote and hard-to-reach communities.
- The proposed centres aim to provide timely, accessible, confidential, and comprehensive care for survivors of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence.
