The federal government has urged Nigerian universities to establish Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) to combat sexual harassment and provide timely intervention for victims.
Speaking at a national summit on sexual harassment in tertiary education in Abuja, Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim, described the issue as a global menace and a serious violation of human rights, particularly against women and girls.
Organized by the Alliance for Africa and the Committee for Gender Directors in Nigerian Universities, the event launched the 16 Days of Activism Campaign Against Gender-Based Violence.
The minister highlighted the administration’s commitment to tackling gender-based violence through initiatives like the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act and the Sexual Harassment Prohibition Bill. She called on universities to enforce safety policies, develop gender-sensitive frameworks, and create safe reporting channels to protect students.
