The Awyetu Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC), located at Bwari General Hospital in Abuja, has recorded 345 cases of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) between 2020 and 2024.
This was disclosed on Tuesday by the Mandate Secretary of the FCT Women Affairs Secretariat, Mrs. Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi during a visit by Dr. Najat Maalla M’jid, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative on Violence Against Children.
Benjamins-Laniyi revealed that 84% of the reported cases involved children under the age of 18, stressing the urgent need for stronger collaboration with security agencies to ensure perpetrators are brought to justice.
She added that the FCT Administration is also working to ensure greater involvement of residents and community leaders in supporting the centre’s activities.
Also speaking, the Mandate Secretary of the Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Baba-Gana Adam noted that the centre was established in 2020 by the British Council on behalf of the European Union under the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) Programme.
Fasawe explained that the centre offers comprehensive medical, psychological, and legal services to survivors of sexual violence.
The Medical Director of Bwari General Hospital, Dr. Ibrahim Mijinyawa provided a breakdown of the cases, including 313 survivors (90.7%) who were female, while 32 (9.3%) were male and 289 cases (83.7%) involved children under 19 years, with the remaining 56 (16.3%) adults aged 19 and above.
According to the Centre Manager, Dr. Bejide Augustine, 18 cases have been reported so far in 2024, comprising 16 females and 2 males, with 17 of the survivors under 18 years.
He outlined the range of services offered at the centre, including medical examination and treatment, forensic evidence collection in collaboration with law enforcement, psychosocial counselling and trauma care, and legal aid and referral services
He added that community awareness and prevention programmes are planned but have not yet commenced.
“The Bwari SARC operates a survivor-centred model, ensuring dignity, confidentiality, and access to justice for all survivors,” Augustine said.
He also noted that the centre collaborates with both governmental and non-governmental organisations to strengthen support systems for survivors.
