FG unveils mobile courts, new guidelines for hotels, schools to end GBV

The Federal Government, on Thursday, unveiled mobile courts and new guidelines for hotels, schools, and others to ensure speedy access to justice for cases of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV).

Mobile courts are courts that can be easily moved from one place to another to adjudicate disputes and administer justice.

Mrs Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, Minister of Women Affairs, during a partnership meeting in Abuja with other key stakeholders noted the alarming cases of SGBV, child abuse, child labour, harmful practices and prison congestion in the country.

Kennedy-Ohanenye, decried cases of exposure to alcohol and even death in hotels, bullying and sexual molestation in schools as well as refusal to treat gunshot patients without police reports, said the enactment of the mobile courts would curtail such menace.

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According to her, the implementation of the mobile court will usher in guidelines for new operational methods for all hotels, hospitals, schools and NGOs, which include signs prohibiting actions that encourage GBV.

She explained that some signs are to be posted in strategic areas of hotels,schools, hospitals and other places with a toll free number for people to report violations.

“The implementation of the mobile court will usher in guidelines for new operational methods for all hotels, hospitals both private and public, private and public schools and NGOs.

“All hotels should display posters of no under aged girls or children allowed for lodging in hotels.

“All primary and secondary schools should display sign posts and there must be a sitting teacher in every classroom for both primary and secondary.

“There must be four teachers on duty who will always be outside watching the children play during breaks. There must be a sitting cleaner staff at the entrance of the toilet corridors to monitor what goes on.

“No hospital should reject any emergency patient. At least immediate first aid should be administered for restoration or resuscitation of life,” she said.

The minister added that the objectives of the mobile courts include increase in speed deployment and dispensation of justice; enhancement of speed and efficiency in case trial, eliminate harmful practices.

Others include: reduction of child labour, out-ofschool children and underage as househelps; reduce child abuse and the use of babies to beg for alms amongst; several others.

Also speaking, Eze Anyanwu, the National President, Nigeria Hotel Association assured the government of their commitment towards ensuring the implementation of the guidelines to address cases of GBV.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that other stakeholders at the meeting include representatives from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Education, medical facilities, hotel owners, NGOs, CSOs, among others.