By Folasade Akpan
A Judge of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Justice Angela Otaluka, has called for abolishing cultural and societal practices that enable or encourage violence against women across Nigeria’s diverse communities nationwide.
Otaluka made the call in Abuja on Wednesday while delivering a keynote address at the commemoration of International Women’s Day 2026 organised by the United Nations Gender Theme Group Nigeria and partners.
The event had the theme “Equal Justice for Women and Girls in Nigeria: Strengthening Inclusive Gender-Responsive Justice Systems,” focusing on advancing fairness, inclusion, and accountability within Nigeria’s justice delivery institutions.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that International Women’s Day is commemorated globally every March 8 to celebrate women’s achievements and advocate for gender equality and inclusion worldwide.
Otaluka said closing the justice gap for women and girls, eliminating impunity for Gender-Based Violence, and building institutions anchored on fairness, dignity, and equality were essential priorities nationwide.
She emphasised that in spite of progress in law reform and institutional development, many women and girls in Nigeria still faced barriers in accessing justice and obtaining timely and effective legal remedies.
According to her, entrenched cultural norms discourage reporting of abuse, while economic dependence limits victims’ ability to pursue legal remedies and secure justice through formal systems effectively.
She added that delays within the justice system and inadequate gender sensitivity among justice sector actors further worsened the situation, discouraging survivors from seeking redress and undermining confidence in institutions nationwide.
“GBV remains a grave concern as it constitutes not only a violation of fundamental human rights, but also an assault on the dignity, security and equality of women and girls,” she said.
Otaluka, however, said the justice system was increasingly responding to protect vulnerable groups, stressing that a gender-responsive system must be deliberate, inclusive, and sensitive to the realities faced by survivors nationwide.
She described Nigeria’s transition to a gender-responsive justice system as ongoing, citing the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015, as a key milestone, while noting persistent gaps in implementation nationwide.
While acknowledging existing legal frameworks, she said cultural and systemic barriers often hindered their effective application, limiting access to justice and weakening protection for women and girls effectively.
The judge advocated reforms to improve accessibility to justice, promote accountability, protect survivors, and strengthened legal safeguards against discrimination and abuse across institutions nationwide for sustainable impact.
She also called for practical institutional reforms, including capacity building for judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement officers, establishment of specialised courts, deployment of technology, and strengthening legal aid services nationwide.
Otaluka emphasised the need for collaboration among government institutions, civil society organisations, development partners, as well as traditional and religious leaders to drive meaningful and sustained justice sector reforms.
Also speaking, Mrs Yewande Gbola-Awopetu, Head of the Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Unit at the Federal Ministry of Justice, said justice must not be selective or influenced by gender, vulnerability, or social status.
She said many women and girls still faced stigma, fear, lack of awareness, and institutional gaps when seeking justice, highlighting persistent challenges that hindered access to effective legal remedies nationwide.
“For many survivors, the journey to justice can be as difficult as the violation itself.
“A justice system that does not adequately protect women and girls cannot truly claim to be just,” she said.
Gbola-Awopetu reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to improving access to justice, strengthening legal frameworks, and supporting prosecution of offenders through sustained collaboration with stakeholders across sectors nationwide.
She called for collective responsibility among law enforcement agencies, the judiciary, policymakers, community leaders, and citizens to build a responsive, inclusive justice system that serves all Nigerians fairly.
In his remarks, the United Nations Resident Coordinator, Mr Mohamed Fall, said the global theme for 2026 is “Rights. Justice. Action. For All Women and Girls.”
Fall was represented by the UN Women Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ms Beatrice Eyong,
He said the theme underscored the need for institutions and policymakers to take decisive steps in addressing gender inequality and strengthening systems that protected women and girls across societies worldwide.
Fall cited data from the 2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey indicating that more than one in five women aged 15 to 49 had experienced physical or sexual violence nationwide.
He said many survivors did not seek help due to lack of confidence in existing systems, while most who did often turned to family members rather than formal.
According to him, harmful practices such as child marriage and female genital mutilation, alongside societal attitudes that justify domestic violence, continue to undermine justice efforts and protections for women nationwide.
He acknowledged Nigeria’s legal frameworks, including the Violence Against Persons Act, Child Rights Act, and Administration of Criminal Justice Act, but emphasised that effective implementation remained a major challenge.
He called for scaling up legal aid services, institutionalising gender-sensitivity training, and strengthening inter-agency coordination to ensure survivors received comprehensive support and timely access to justice.
Also, Ms Muriel Mafico, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Representative, said access to justice remained out of reach for many survivors, in spite of the existence of relevant laws.
Mafico called for passage and full implementation of the revised Violence Against Persons Bill, describing it as critical to strengthening protection and advancing justice for women and girls.
She said the law provides comprehensive safeguards, including protection orders, prohibition of harmful practices, and compensation mechanisms for survivors seeking justice and redress through formal systems.
According to her, translating legal frameworks into practical outcomes requires sustained commitment, collaboration, and accountability among institutions and stakeholders working to advance gender equality and justice.
Mafico emphasised that ensuring justice for women and girls was not only a legal obligation but also a moral imperative necessary to uphold dignity, human rights, and equality across societies nationwide.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Abiemwense Moru
