International human rights organisation, Amnesty International, has
called on the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to
declare rape as a national crisis in the country.
Amnesty
International said on Wednesday that it joined its voice to other civil
societies demanding justice over the incident of rape and murder of a
22-year-old student of the University of Benin, Uwavera Omozuwa, as well
as 18-year-old Barakat Bello in Ibadan, Oyo State.
AI Nigeria in
a series of tweets noted that a “toxic culture that encourages men to
see women as passive sex objects” must be discouraged.
The
organisation said, “The government’s response to rape continues to be,
woefully inadequate. Frequent reports of rape across Nigeria is a
gruesome reminder of the violence women and girls face. Violence against
women and girls is often not properly registered or investigated.
“The
rape and murder of an 18-year-old student, Barakat Bello, in Ibadan is
shocking. Amnesty International is calling on the Nigerian authorities
to declare a national crisis on rape. Women and girls’ safety must be
paramount across Nigeria.
“Dear President Buhari, declare rape a
national crisis. Rape is a crime. If there is no consent, it is rape,
even if the victim stays quiet and does not resist. The “boys will be
boys” mentality warps sex into something for men, done by men to women,
without regard for the woman’s wellbeing. This toxic culture that
encourages men to view women as passive sex objects needs to be
addressed.
“We are joining people in Nigeria to demand justice
for Omozuwa who was murdered and raped in a Nigerian church. Violence
against women must stop. Authorities have to ensure justice for her and
other women.”