Child rape is a profound human right violation that inflicts lasting physical, emotional, and psychological scars on its victims. Among the most vulnerable groups, the girl-child  faces  a disproportionate amount of sexual abuse globally, reflecting deep-rooted societal, cultural, and systemic failures. Despite international laws and local measures aimed at protecting children, rape and sexual violence against girl-child remain a pervasive problem in many parts of the world, as it  is alarmingly prevalent worldwide.  According to data from the World Health Organisation (WHO), one in four girls experiences some form of sexual abuse before the age of 18. This abuse occurs across all socio-economic, cultural, and geographical divides. The underreporting of sexual violence against children, fueled by fear, stigma, and victim-blaming, makes it difficult to grasp the true scale of the problem.
Reports from organisations like UNICEF and Human Rights Watch highlight that in some regions, girl-children are specifically targeted due to the belief that they are “pure” or “virgin,” making them more vulnerable to cultural myths that suggest intercourse with a virgin can cure diseases like HIV/AIDS. These deeply harmful beliefs exacerbate the risk for young girls, particularly in countries where educational and legal protections are weak.A range of factors contributes to the high incidence of rape against girl-children, many of which are embedded in patriarchal and misogynistic beliefs. In some cultures, girls are viewed as inferior or subservient to males, making them easy targets for exploitation. The normalisation of gender-based violence in some communities means that abuse often goes unnoticed, unreported, or unpunished. Child marriage, which remains prevalent in some parts of Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, is another contributing factor.
When girls are married off as children, they are often exposed to sexual violence under the guise of marital relations. These young brides, who are typically powerless in these situations, often endure repeated sexual abuse from their significantly older husbands.Additionally, in conflict zones, girl-children are disproportionately affected by sexual violence, used as tools of war by armed groups to terrorise communities. Such exploitation results in severe trauma and long-lasting consequences for victims. Rape and sexual abuse leave devastating effects on a girl-child, both physically and mentally. Physically, young girls are not developed enough to handle sexual intercourse, leading to severe injuries, infections, and even death in extreme cases. Many victims also face long-term reproductive health issues, including infertility, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and complications in future pregnancies.
The psychological toll is equally profound. Victims often suffer from depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other mental health conditions. The stigma associated with sexual violence further isolates them from their families and communities, leaving them vulnerable to further exploitation or abuse. The educational consequences are also significant. Many victims drop out of school due to the trauma, fear of facing their abusers, or the stigma attached to rape. This creates a cycle of poverty and dependence, further reducing their life chances. Access to justice for child rape victims is often fraught with challenges. In many countries, laws around sexual violence are outdated, under-enforced, or not well understood. Law enforcement agencies frequently lack the training or resources to handle cases of child sexual abuse appropriately, leading to further victimisation during investigations.
In some cases, cultural practices such as “settling” rape cases between families, or forcing victims to marry their rapists, prevent victims from receiving the justice they deserve. This, not only robs the victim of justice but perpetuates a culture of impunity where perpetrators feel empowered to commit further acts of violence. Additionally, the social stigma surrounding rape prevents many girl-children from coming forward. Fear of blame, retaliation, or being ostracised by their communities often keeps victims silent, allowing abusers to continue their crimes unchecked. Internationally, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) both call for an end to all forms of violence against children, including sexual abuse. Organisations such as UNICEF, Plan International, and Save the Children, have been instrumental in raising awareness, supporting survivors, and lobbying for stronger laws and protections.
On a national level, many countries have taken steps to strengthen legal frameworks to protect children from sexual violence. Child protection laws, survivor-centred legal reforms, and harsher penalties for offenders have been introduced in several countries. However, effective implementation remains a challenge in many places due to corruption, weak legal systems, and deep-seated cultural barriers. To truly address the epidemic of child rape, a multi-faceted approach is needed that tackles the root causes of the problem.  Education and Empowerment of girl-children can go a long way in preventing rape cases in the society. Educating girls about their rights, providing them with life skills, and empowering them to speak out against violence are crucial steps in preventing abuse. Equally important is educating boys and men about consent, respect, and gender equality to shift harmful patriarchal norms.
Girls and women need stronger legal protection to escape some of the rape cases that occur regularly. Governments must prioritise the implementation of robust child protection laws, ensuring that law enforcement agents are well-trained and sensitised to handle cases of child rape. Special courts for handling cases involving children, victim support services, and protective measures should be readily available to survivors. If we have to curb child rape menace, community engagement must be included in the process. Engaging communities to change attitudes toward girl-children and dismantling harmful gender norms is essential. Community leaders, religious figures, and educators can play a pivotal role in shifting mindsets and promoting zero tolerance for violence against children.
Furthermore, there is the need for support for survivours of rape. Comprehensive support systems for survivors are critical for the rest of their lives. These include access to psychological counselling, medical care, legal aid, and safe spaces where victims can heal and rebuild their lives. Schools should also provide supportive environments to help victims continue their education without fear of stigma or discrimination. Global Advocacy and Accountability from World Health Organisation (WHO), UNICEF, and other relevant agencies should as a matter of fact continue to create more awareness and sensitisation on the need to save the girl-child. International organisations and governments must continue to advocate for the protection of children’s rights, ensuring that perpetrators are held accountable. Monitoring mechanisms, transparency in legal proceedings, and collaboration between countries are key to fighting transnational issues like child trafficking for sexual exploitation.
It is worrisome to note in the 21st century, as the world is a global village, fully digitalised, when the girl-children should be allowed to showcase their potentials, instead they are trafficked to do jobs that will harm their lives.  Parents particularly, should have the number of children they can cater for. They should also pay attention to the ones they have.  Moreso, the boy-children and the men should be sensitised on the need to stop the menace. Rape and sexual violence against girl-children are some of the gravest injustices of our time, robbing millions of their childhoods and futures. While progress has been made, there is still much work to be done to protect the most vulnerable among us. It is only through collective action, from governments, communities, families, and international organisations, that we can create a world where girl- children are safe, empowered, and free from violence.
By: Perpetual Izuegbunam

Women empowerment implies the ability in women to take decisions with regard to their life and work and giving equal rights to them in all spheres such as personal, social, economic, political, legal and so on. Women empowerment has become the buzzword today with women working alongside men in all spheres. Women profess an independent outlook, whether they are living inside their homes or working outside. They are increasingly gaining control over their life and taking their own decision which concerns their education, career, profession and lifestyle. With steady increase in the number of working women, they have gained  financial independence, which has given them confidence to lead their own life as well as  build their own identity. Suffice it to say that women are successfully taking up diverse professions to prove their worth. However,  while doing so, women are  careful to strike a balance between their commitment to their profession and to their homes and families..
They are playing multiple roles of mothers, daughters, sisters, wives and working professionals with remarkable harmony and ease. With equal opportunities to work, they are functioning with spirit of teamwork to render all possible co-operation to their male counterparts and meeting the deadline and target set in their respective professions. Women empowerment is not limited to urban working women but women in remote towns and villages are now increasingly making their voices heard loud and clear in the society. They are no longer willing to play the second fiddle to their male counterparts . Educated or not, they are asserting their socio-political rights and making their presence  felt, regardless of their socio- economic background. Unfortunately, many of them face exploitation and harassment which can be of diverse types like emotional, physical, mental and sexual.
They are often subjected to rape, abuse and other forms of physical and intellectual violence. Women empowerment, in the truest sense, will be achieved only when there is attitudinal change in society with regard to womenfolk, treating them with proper respect, dignity, fairness and equality. The rural areas of the country are, by and large, steeped in a feudal and medieval outlook refusing to grant women equal say in the matters of their education, marriage, dress code, profession and social interaction. Women, worldwide are working at the same level with men but they are not empowered to make decision about different aspects of their profession. When women are empowered, their ability to live meaningful and purposeful lives is boosted.
Empowerment removes their dependence on others and makes them individuals in their own right. Furthermore, they are able to lead their lives with dignity and freedom. It also adds to their self-esteem and  gives them a distinct identity. They are able to gain position of respect in their society.  Interestingly, as they are financially independent, they are able to spend all on their needs and desires.When women are empowered, they are able to make meaningful contribution to the well-being of society as well as act as capable citizens to make the country achieve enhanced gross domestic products.
It may interest you to know that they get fair and equitable access to resources of the country. It is necessary to grant women continued empowerment to remove injustice and gender bias and inequalities and enable them enjoy security and protection in life. It also provides them a safe working environment.
Empowerment acts as a powerful tool against exploitation and harassment of women. It is a great means to get adequate legal protection for women. If not socially and economically empowered, they  cannot develop their own identity and  the global economy will be adversely affected as women constitute a vast chunk of the world’s population. Amidst different means of empowerment available for women, only proper and adequate education, can enable them access them and make their voices heard. One of the best things that has happened to women is the access to the internet which has opened their eyes and created knowledge and awareness as well as increased social interaction for all  women. It is thus imperative that women be empowered to  make the society and world a better place to live. Only then can we be sure of  inclusive participation.

By: Eunice Okah

With the eventual release of 67 under-aged minors detained for involvement in #EndBadGovernance protests in August, the dust of the entire episode appears to have settled without lessons to improve our justice system’s administration. Between July 31 and August 11, 2024, #EndBadGovernance protests rocked through most states across Nigeria. The protests boiled more in the Northern states where the media carried scenes of arsonists burning down and looting public and private establishments. The protests took threatening dimensions when authorities alleged sighting foreign mercenaries amidst protesters who were raising Russian flags and calling on Russia to intervene in Nigeria’s internal affairs. The police subsequently swooped on protesters, encycling among them about 67 minors. Those caught were taken to the federal capital territory, Abuja, and dumped in detention cells.
Protests having been successfully quelled, Nigerians returned to their daily life hustles, while the minors with their adult suspects languished outside public consciousness. It took the coincidental sojourn in police custody, of one Martins Otse aka VeryDarkMan, for public awareness to be redrawn to a forgotten episode. VeryDarkMan had himself got entangled in police nets for posing in police attires allegedly without authorisation, hence his arrest and detention. But VeryDarkMan’s predicaments turned out to be the very channel through which the incarceration of vulnerable kids by state actors, caught the attention of a curious social media activist. As typical of VDM, sooner had he got freed than he released tales that exposed the ugly conditions of kids he met while in police custody. By then the kids had languished for no less than 90 days without arraignments. Most of them having been ferried from as far as Kano, and away from family supports, had starved immensely with pitiable signs of deteriorating health.
In the face of the exposé, police authority swinged into a flurry of actions that within hours, saw all protest detainees arraigned before a court wherein they were committed to prison on stringent bail conditions. Apparently, VDM’s exposé helped the police suddenly crack difficult nuts and untie knots they could not achieve for over 90 days. And quite surprisingly, lingering investigations got concluded within hours while charge sheets got ready for the courts. Was the police in a hurry to extricate itself from an already ugly situation? Even for treasonable offences, the delay in prosecution and the silent manner in which the suspects were incarcerated speak volumes about the inhumane nature of our law enforcement systems, and highlights the nature of maltreatments many other suspects have had to undergo contrary to the primordial principles laid down for the protection of human rights and dignity, even in custody.
That kids protesting against hunger were rounded up and set to languish in hunger for three months, should be deplorable enough to engender empathy. Yet notwithstanding the pitiable conditions in which the fragile kids appeared in court, the presiding judge ruled that, “The defendants are granted bail in the sum of N10 million each, with two sureties in like sum. One of them must be a Level 15 civil servant, and the other a parent of the defendant.” Such indifference smacks of our justice system’s high-handedness and its deposition to using a sledge hammer to punish an errant fly. Whereas, government should lead in the protection of the most vulnerable in society against any form of physical and emotional trauma, ours has become wanting in that regard. It was therefore no great surprise when public outbursts greeted both the exposure of the incarceration and the eventual terms in which the kids were sent to prison.
Many civil society organisations, human rights activists, former presidential candidates, and many others, expressed anger on discovering the inhumane treatment, prompting the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) to immediately take over the case files. But with a presidential intervention that finally ordered all charges dropped and all detainees released, it appears to be another closed cycle. However, some Nigerians are calling for sanctions against the Inspector-General of Police, the trial judge and the AGF for allowing such incarcerations against under-aged persons, while others complain that our justice system’s ‘charge and bail’ syndrome does not allow full dissecting of public issues to beneficial conclusions. Some question that, even as Nigeria Police Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, insists that children above the age of seven can be charged to court, does Nigeria’s Child Rights Act stipulate that offending kids should be remanded among hardened adult criminals, rather than with trusted guardians?
Does the raising of foreign flags even during protests constitute treason? And for how long should suspects be in police cells before arraignments? On the flip side, the raising of Russian flags might genuinely be worrisome considering the spate of military expeditions across Nigeria’s neighbours in the Sahel, where with alleged Russian backings, military juntas have over-thrown governments and severed Western alliances in favour of Russia.  Allowing unbiased investigations into the motives behind the alleged call on Russia to intervene in Nigeria’s internal affairs coupled with the raising of flags during the protests, should have revealed any broader implications. This becomes more pertinent in the face of on-going rumours about coup plots. If our law and justice establishments had been more forthright, all suspects should have been profiled within the stipulations of legal frameworks that ensure humane handling, and the protection of our national integrity.
The outcomes of diligent prosecutions should also have availed Nigerians who supported the protests solely for the genuine purpose of ensuring good governance, the opportunity of knowing if truly the protest was hijacked, how and by whom. In Nigeria, hundreds of arrests go on daily but end up without insightful closures, in a common phenomenon referred locally, as ‘charge and bail.’ Some cases stall due to the frivolity of their origins, and some due to bribery, sheer frustration or politics. While submitting that the trauma of the incarcerated kids should not be swept under the carpets without some consolations, there is need for sanctions against their incarcerators. However, President Tinubu’s order that discharged in one swing, both adult suspects and the maltreated kids, whether out of political calculations having achieved an aim of silencing a protest, or to enable justice, has just repeated an over-beaten cycle – our penchant for ‘charge and bail.

Joseph Nwankwor