By Julian Osamoto
The Legal Aid Council of Nigeria (LACoN) and the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) are developing new procedures to address gaps in identifying survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) who seek legal assistance.
The procedures are designed to help legal aid practitioners recognise signs of abuse in cases involving matrimonial disputes, child custody, maintenance, inheritance and tenancy, where survivors may not disclose their experiences.
The Director-General of LACoN, Aliyu Abubakar, stated this in Abuja at a validation workshop organised by the Council and the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) under the European Union-funded Support to End Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in Nigeria programme implemented by International IDEA
Abubakar said fear of retaliation, stigma, trauma, economic dependence and social barriers often prevent survivors from speaking about abuse when seeking legal assistance.
He explained that existing procedures focused mainly on legal representation and alternative dispute resolution, leaving some cases of violence, coercion and intimidation undetected.
The proposed tools include revised client intake forms LAC 2 for criminal cases and LAC 3 for civil cases, alongside guidelines and checklists to help practitioners identify different forms of abuse.
Abubakar said the tools would guide practitioners in recognising physical, psychological and other forms of abuse while protecting survivors’ confidentiality, obtaining their consent and safeguarding their personal data.
He added that the guidelines would establish referral pathways to connect survivors with specialised legal, psychosocial and protection services and help them access remedies under the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act 2015 and other relevant laws.
The Director-General said the tools would be used by Council lawyers and pro bono legal aid providers to improve early identification and support for survivors.
Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Abuja Branch, Yakubu Philemon, said the association had recorded about 112 gender-based violence cases nationwide, with more than half of the affected persons receiving support.
Philemon said the NBA would continue collaborating with law enforcement agencies to support investigations and prosecutions where sufficient evidence exists.
Executive Director of the Sexual Offences Awareness and Response Initiative and member of the tools’ Technical Working Group, Chinyere Eyoh, said abuse could remain concealed in cases presented as matrimonial disputes, child custody matters and other legal disagreements.
Eyoh said the questions legal aid officers ask, how they ask them and the environment in which they receive clients could determine whether survivors disclose abuse and obtain assistance.
She called for confidential, survivor-centred responses, adequate staff training and effective referrals to legal, psychosocial and protection services.
Senior Programme Manager for the Ending Sexual and Gender-Based Violence programme at International IDEA, Mufuliat Fijabi, called for sustained collaboration among stakeholders to strengthen responses to gender-based violence.
Representing the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, Tony Ojukwu, Ngozi Okorie identified financial constraints as a major barrier preventing survivors from pursuing legal action and called for stronger institutional collaboration.
The initiative seeks to improve early identification of abuse at legal aid offices. Its effectiveness will depend on the implementation of the proposed procedures, adequate staff training and access to appropriate support services.
