FG, UNODC urge responders to prioritise SGBV survivors in terror-related attacks

The Federal Government and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) have urged first emergency responders to prioritise the safety, dignity and protection of survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) linked to terrorism.

They made the call at the Second Expert Group Meeting on the Development of a Toolkit for First Emergency Responders in Cases of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Linked to Terrorism, held in Abuja.

Representing the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, the National Coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Centre, Major General Adamu Laka, said survivors often suffered lasting physical injuries, psychological trauma, social stigma and difficulties rebuilding their lives.

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He added that the consequences extended beyond survivors to affect their families and communities.

Laka said the initial response to survivors must go beyond documentation, response procedures and accountability to place their welfare at the centre of every intervention.

“For anyone who has experienced sexual violence, the manner in which assistance is first offered can influence their willingness to seek further care, their confidence in public institutions and their path towards recovery,” he said.

He noted that first responders played a critical role in identifying sexual violence, receiving disclosures from survivors and connecting them with medical care and protection services.

However, he acknowledged that responders often worked under intense pressure, with limited resources and competing demands.

According to him, the proposed toolkit would provide practical guidance to help responders manage such cases effectively while strengthening the link between emergency assistance, survivor protection and the preservation of information that could support investigations.

“Every response should protect survivors from further harm. Urgent care, privacy, dignity and appropriate referrals must guide the initial encounter,” Laka said.

He stressed the need for responders to understand the limits of their responsibilities and recognise when specialist assistance was required.

In his remarks, the UNODC Country Representative, Cheikh Touré, said terrorist groups deliberately used sexual and gender-based violence to terrorise, punish and control victims.

He said women, girls, men and boys were targeted, while entire communities could be subjected to such crimes because of their religion, ethnicity or political identity.

Touré added that the effects often persisted long after attacks, compounded by stigma, displacement and barriers to healthcare and justice.

He said the success of the proposed toolkit would depend on the contributions of practitioners involved in its development and eventual implementation.

The UNODC representative cited the abduction of 276 schoolgirls from Chibok, Borno State, in April 2014, as an example of the devastating consequences of Boko Haram’s insurgency.

According to him, the abductions, forced marriages and sexual enslavement associated with the insurgency in Nigeria’s North-East demonstrated how sexual violence could form part of a deliberate strategy of terror.

“These crimes are a global challenge. They are not confined to one religion, ideology or terrorist organisation. That is precisely why this toolkit must draw on experiences from different contexts while remaining firmly anchored in the rights, safety and dignity of those affected,” he said.

Touré cited United Nations Security Council Resolution 2331 of 2016, which recognised the links between sexual violence, human trafficking and terrorism, and Resolution 2467 of 2019, which called for a survivor-centred approach to conflict-related sexual violence.

He added that the United Nations General Assembly had reaffirmed these commitments through successive reviews of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.

However, he said translating international commitments into practical action remained a challenge in countries such as Nigeria.

“A resolution alone does not reach a survivor. What matters is whether its principles translate into practical action and whether countries can adapt and implement them within their own national systems,” he said.

Touré expressed confidence that Nigeria would demonstrate the commitment required to incorporate the guidance into its national systems and ensure survivors across the country’s 36 states benefited from improved response mechanisms.

He also highlighted the difficult conditions under which first responders operated during and immediately after terrorist attacks, including insecurity, mass casualties, inadequate resources and the urgent need to save lives.

Such conditions, he said, could make it difficult to identify signs of sexual violence, preserve evidence and ensure survivors received appropriate assistance.

He stressed that the first interaction between responders and survivors could influence whether victims felt respected, trusted the response system and obtained the care and protection they needed.

According to him, safeguarding confidentiality, respecting dignity and facilitating appropriate referrals could build trust and reduce the risk of further harm.

He added that proper documentation and evidence preservation, where safe and within responders’ responsibilities, could help ensure crimes were recorded and perpetrators brought to justice.

However, he warned against allowing investigative priorities to override survivors’ welfare.

“The survivor’s safety comes first; the case file comes second,” he said.

Touré noted that some responders lacked the equipment, evidence-packaging materials, and technical skills required to preserve evidence properly.

He called for stronger systems to equip first responders and align their work with established standards.

The UNODC representative also stressed the need for better coordination among agencies to prevent survivors from repeatedly recounting traumatic experiences when seeking assistance from different institutions.

He said survivors should not be subjected to unnecessary repetition of their accounts simply because several institutions were involved in providing care, protection and access to justice.

“Our commitment is straightforward: we will remain engaged with this work and its partners until the toolkit reaches the first responders who need it in Nigeria and other countries confronting terrorism,” Touré said.

The proposed toolkit is expected to provide practical guidance on responding to cases of sexual and gender-based violence linked to terrorism, with emphasis on survivor safety, confidentiality, appropriate referrals, and evidence preservation within the limits of responders’ responsibilities.