The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has recorded 158,517 complaints of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) against women and children in 2021.

The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Chief Tony Ojukwu, made this know in Maiduguri in his message at the Call to Action workshop to develop the North East roadmap on protection from gender-based violence in emergencies, organized by UN Population Fund (UNFPA).

Ojukwu was represented by Mrs. Ngozi Okore, Deputy Director of Research in the commission.

According to him, the commission has created a counseling unit in addition to other departments handling women, children, and vulnerable groups to address the overwhelming complaints to the commission.

Ojukwu also said that a designated toll-free line and the digital platform were launched to direct a victim to a responder.

“In line with our mandate of protection and enforcement of human rights, we are delighted to be members of the Call to Action on protection from GBV in emergencies, and therefore pledged our total commitment to the realization of the objectives of the call to action.

“We wish to commend UNFPA for this event in order to bring to the fore the need and way forward to addressing GBV in emergencies,” Ojukwu added.