On June 18, 2025, the Forum held its general meeting, followed by what was described as an “interesting lecture” on a timely and sensitive topic: “Prosecuting Conflict-Related Sexual Violence: Challenges and Opportunities.”
The guest lecturer at the event was Mr. Chidi Anyaoha, Esq., a Deputy Director in the Department of Public Prosecution at the Ministry of Justice.
In his remarks, Mr. Anyaoha noted that “prosecuting conflict-related matters is a complex issue that poses significant challenges, but also presents opportunities for justice and healing.” He then outlined several key aspects to consider in this area of legal and humanitarian importance.
Challenges:
Speaking on the challenges, the Deputy Director first highlighted the lack of funding. He stated that, “recent global funding cuts have severely impacted programs aimed at preventing and responding to gender-based violence, forcing many organizations to scale back or suspend their services.”
He also addressed the issue of limited access to justice. According to him, “survivors often face significant barriers in accessing justice, including lack of support systems, social stigma, and inadequate legal frameworks.”
Mr. Anyaoha further emphasized stigmatization as a major challenge. “This is a very big challenge to the affected persons,” he said.
He added that inadequate support services also severely hinder justice and recovery for survivors. “Survivors require comprehensive support services, including mental health and psychosocial support, legal aid, and safe spaces for healing and reporting,” he explained.
Opportunities:
Despite the challenges, Mr. Anyaoha pointed to several opportunities that stakeholders can explore. “There should be increased awareness of sexual-related conflict violence in our communities, local governments, and the state in general,” he recommended.
He advocated for a survivor-centered approach, stating that, “involving survivors in determining paths to recovery and restitution can help ensure that their needs are met and their voices are heard.”
The guest lecturer also stressed the need for strengthening legal frameworks, saying, “strengthening humanitarian law and ensuring that perpetrators are held accountable can help prevent future instances of conflict-related sexual violence.”
Examples and Recommendations:
As part of his presentation, Mr. Anyaoha cited the Boko Haram insurgency as a notable example of conflict-related sexual violence in Nigeria. He remarked that, “the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria has led to numerous cases of conflict-related sexual violence, highlighting the need for effective humanitarian law and support services.”
To address these challenges, he emphasized the need to fully fund support services. “Providing adequate funding for comprehensive support services is crucial to helping survivors recover and rebuild their lives,” he said.
On the importance of justice, Mr. Anyaoha stressed: “Ensuring that survivors have access to justice and support systems is essential for holding perpetrators accountable and preventing future instances of conflict-related sexual violence.”
He concluded by reiterating the importance of a survivor-centered approach, stating, “prioritizing a survivor-centered approach can help ensure that survivors receive the support and care they need to heal and rebuild their lives.”
A Successful Engagement:
Reflecting on the day’s event, the convener, C. A. Sunday-Iherue, expressed satisfaction with both the meeting and the lecture. “Both the meeting and lecture went well to the glory of God,” he said.
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