Survivors urged to seek justice, not hush money.
The Initiative to Resist Institutional Slavery and Exploitation (IRISE) has urged rape and sexual violence survivors to avoid out-of-court settlements, stressing that legal action ensures justice and deters offenders. The advice came during a two-day training in Lagos for journalists on rights-based, evidence-driven reporting in Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR).
Mrs. Adesola Bello of Africa Women Lawyers Association Nigeria said settlements deny survivors justice and fail to teach society a deterrent lesson. She stressed that rape is a crime against the state, punishable by life imprisonment, and should never be bypassed.
IRISE Executive Director, Mrs. Omodele Ibitoye-Ejoh, highlighted the broader reproductive health risks survivors face, including unsafe abortions due to lack of contraceptives, underlining the urgent need for law enforcement and public awareness.
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