The National Counterterrorism Centre and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime have called for improved protection and support for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence linked to terrorism. 

The call was made in Abuja during the second Expert Group Meeting on the development of a toolkit for first emergency responders handling sexual and gender-based violence cases. The National Coordinator of the National Counterterrorism Centre, Major General Adamu Laka, said survivors often face lasting physical injuries, psychological distress, stigma and difficulties rebuilding their lives. 

Laka stressed that the safety and dignity of survivors must remain the priority in every response, noting that the initial assistance provided could influence their willingness to seek further care and their journey towards recovery. He explained that first emergency responders play a critical role in identifying cases of sexual violence, receiving disclosures and connecting survivors with medical care and protection services. 

Meanwhile, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Country Representative in Nigeria, Cheikh Touré, said international commitments to addressing sexual violence linked to terrorism are already established, but their implementation remains a challenge. 

Cheikh added that the United Nations General Assembly had also reaffirmed these commitments through successive reviews of the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, stressing that the priority should now be translating these international commitments into practical action to improve the protection and support available to survivors.