SERAP Urges FG to Facilitate Access to Healthcare for Boko Haram Victims

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the Federal Government to facilitate access to adequate healthcare for the children and women raped and impregnated by Boko Haram militants.

This is against the backdrop of the 214 children and women rescued in north-east that are pregnant.

In a statement signed by SERAP executive director Adetokunbo Mumuni, the organisation said that, “Having survived the horrific crime of rape and sexual violence, these children and women should be spared further physical and mental torture by ensuring that they are urgently allowed access to all necessary medical treatment. Such medical treatment must be provided on a non-discriminatory basis.”

The group said it was concerned that the pregnant children and women continued to face adverse treatment, warning that if urgent action was not taken, the severity of the crime against them meant many of these children and women could spend the rest of their lives with full blown emotional problems, such as post-traumatic stress disorder.

The organisation noted that under international law, all victims of conflict, including rape victims, must receive the best care as soon as possible.

The group stated that it was ‘closely’ monitoring the situation of the children and women and would take appropriate legal actions nationally and internationally should the government continue to deny them their right to effective remedies, and fail to implement the above suggested recommendations.

It urged the government to “provide regular information to the public on: the exact number of pregnant children and women now being screened by the authorities; the level of medical care and attention they are receiving; the level of their access to the minimum essential food which is nutritionally adequate and safe; basic shelter, housing and sanitation, the level of their access to essential drugs, and the plan for their rehabilitation.”