Stakeholders Demand Legal Overhaul To Strengthen Fight Against GBV In Nigeria
Legal Experts Push for Stronger Laws to Tackle Rising GBV Cases
Abuja Legal Summit Highlights Reform Gaps
STAKEHOLDERS at a Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)-linked summit in Abuja have called for urgent legal reforms and stronger institutional responses to gender-based violence (GBV), warning that existing frameworks are not delivering justice quickly or effectively enough.
The discussions formed part of broader policy conversations on how Nigeria’s justice system can better respond to increasing cases of domestic violence, sexual abuse, and other forms of gender-based harm.
Calls for Stronger Legal Frameworks
Participants at the summit argued that while Nigeria has introduced laws aimed at addressing GBV, enforcement gaps, procedural delays, and weak institutional coordination continue to undermine their impact.
Legal practitioners and advocacy stakeholders emphasized the need for:
- Faster judicial processes in GBV-related cases
- Stronger enforcement of existing laws
- Improved coordination between police, courts, and social welfare institutions
They warned that without urgent reforms, victims would continue to face delays that discourage reporting and weaken accountability.
Justice System Under Pressure
Stakeholders noted that GBV cases often suffer from slow investigations and prolonged court processes, leaving survivors exposed to prolonged trauma and, in some cases, withdrawal from prosecution.
They stressed that justice reform must prioritize accessibility, speed, and victim protection.
Reform as a Priority
The summit concluded with a consensus that Nigeria’s legal system requires targeted reforms to improve response capacity, strengthen deterrence, and restore public confidence in GBV prosecution outcomes.
