NGO calls for strengthening of traditional justice system in FCT

Abiodun Essiet Initiative for Girls, an NGO has called for the strengthening of traditional justice systems to end sexual and gender-based violence in the FCT.

Executive Director of the NGO, Mrs Abiodun Essiet, made the call on Thursday in Abuja at a one-day capacity training for original inhabitants and traditional rulers in the FCT.

She said that traditional rulers were critical stakeholders in ending sexual and gender-based violence and stressed that it was time for them to add their voices as part of efforts to end the menace.

“We want to promote the rights of girls; we want it to be recognised that the traditional justice system is a means to ending gender and sexual-based violence.

“Traditional rulers have been doing a lot of conflict resolution and helping to settle disputes within communities, but we want them to scale up their interventions.

“We want the traditional rulers to imbibe confidentiality where it is needed and also use alternative dispute resolution mechanisms so that these cases can be reduced.’’ she said.

Earlier, Mr Abdullahi Candido, Chairman, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) appreciated the NGO for bringing the training to traditional rulers in the FCT.

If we strengthen the capacities of our traditional rulers more, we will be able to have reduction of offenders in our correctional facilities.

“This is a good opportunity for us to have more cohesive and more decisive traditional institutions that can checkmate excesses of violence of all kinds,’’ he said.

In his remarks, Mr Ali Kawu, District Head, Kawu District in Bwari Area Council of the FCT, appreciated the organisation for the training.

He appealed for more sensitisation in combining Western ways of conflict resolution with traditional ways, as well as how to handle issues that had to do with fundamental rights.

Similarly, Mrs Theresa Otu, Magistrate, FCT Judiciary, said that traditional justice system served as a major tool for inculcating moral values in people at the grassroots, hence the need to be strengthened.

The training had “Strengthening Traditional Justice System of FCT Original Inhabitants to Combat Sexual and Gender Based Violence’’ as its theme.

It was attended by traditional rulers from various districts and rural communities in the nation’s capital city.