WACOL concludes 2-days training for Abia Customary Court Judges and Magistrates on protection of women’s rights, GBV survivors

From Daniel Maduagwu, Umuahia

A two-day training program organized by the WOMEN’S AID COLLECTIVE (WACOL) for Customary Court Judges and Magistrates Umuahia , Abia State capital has ended , with a charge of the Judges and Magistrates to ensure the effective implementation of key legislation and policies that protect the rights of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) survivors in Abia State.

The training which was supported by the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Programme (RoLAC), was funded by the European Union (EU).

The participants in the program include Customary Court Judges, Magistrates and Journalists.

Making the presentation on Judicial Gender Stereotyping And Women’s Access To Justice, Dr. Peace Uju Okeke said that the stereotypes against women in the society have no scientific proof.

Dr. Peace Uju Okeke who is a Law Lecturer in University of Nigeria Enugu Campus, lamented that the stereotypes even happen inside Courts.

She urged the Judges and Magistrates not to allow stereotypes to take place in the Courts, and also advised them to ensure that no Lawyer or other Court officials are allowed to use abusive words against GBV survivors.

Dr. Okeke emphasized the need for the Judges and Magistrates to train Court officials so that they will not use demeaning words on survivors of violence.

” It is wrong to start abusing a woman who is in a Witness Box . Asking a witness or a victim if she struggled during rape.”

Dr. Okeke maintained that forcing a woman to sex without her consent amounts to rape, stressing that any sexual act that happens, against the wish of the woman, amounts to rape.

On the reports that some sex workers are raped against their wishes, Dr. Okeke condemned the act.

” Because someone is a sex worker does not mean that she should be raped. If she says no, her decision should be respected”, she said.

According to the presentation, the claims that a woman has no rights or decisions on land matters are stereotypical.

She said it was wrong for a Magistrate or Judge to allow prosecutors to intimidate rape survivors or other victims of Gender-Based Violence.

In another of her presentation titled ” The Role Of Courts/Judiciary In The Effective Enforcement Of Protective Orders, Dr Peace Uju Okeke said talked about the importance of protection order, saying that it enhances the safety of GBV survivors.

Dr Okeke explained that it helps in limiting the actions of abusers .

” Own your Courts, be in charge. The Judges and Magistrates should order supervision of protection order. If a Court in a particular area of Nigeria fails to punish offenders or order compensation, the bad reports would be on Nigeria.”

Dr Okeke called for supervised protection and visitations even as she said that Judges and Magistrates should be able to keep a track records of the orders they issued , pointing out that Court ordered already issued about the protection of GBV survivors should always be followed up.

Also, another Consultant, Dr. Chigozirim Ojiaka took the Judges and Magistrates on a topic titled: PROMOTING WOMEN’S RIGHTS THROUGH THE PRACTICE OF MAGISTRATES AND CUSTOMARY COURT JUDGES.

Quoting the National Judicial Commission (NJC) Code of Conducts for Judicial officers, Dr. Chigozirim Ojiaka said that justice must be upheld for all .

She emphasized that the Judges and Magistrates should not be unethical in discharging their duties, noting that they should avoid political interference in their judgements.

” Be deligence in examining evidence, so that you are not misled by evidence that may be presented by a lawyer.

” Be firm in your decisions and always look out for unnecessary gimmicks that delay cases and always be diligent in gender matters. Victims’ safety is important.” she said.

Dr Ojiaka said survivors whose matters are in court, should be informed and updated on changes in date, adding that rights to their privacy should be respected.

” A case that is sensitive can be restricted to the Court or in Camera.You can give orders restraining the circulation of somebody’s nude pictures. ”
She called for punishment of offenders, saying that doing such would encourage other survivors of rape and other GBV to have confidence in the Judiciary and then confidently pursue their matters in court.

She however said that any alleged perpetrator who is eventually found to be innocent, should be acquitted.

The participants made affirmative declarations about their expectations from the outcome of the training.

They also did and submitted group works, according to various lectures they received.

In her closing remarks, a facilitator for WACOL, Dr. Helen Kalu, thanked the Customary Court Judges and the Magistrates for coming to increase their knowledge.

She urged them to put into practice, the knowledge they got , in order to protect women and girls from harmful societal practices, stereotypes and other dangerous attacks.

In their responses, the participants expressed total appreciation to WACOL for organizing the training, saying that it has equipped them to discharge their duties better.

They appealed to WACOL to sustain the collaboration, through future training programs.