FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAKING THE SYSTEM WORK FOR SURVIVORS: CHARS-AFRICA DEMANDS URGENT OPERATIONALISATION OF ABIA STATE SURVIVOR REHABILITATION LAW
GBV Survivors Deserve Justice, Protection and Rehabilitation, not a Second Round of Trauma.Aba, Abia State | August 12, 2026
The African Centre for Human Advancement and Resource Support (CHARS-Africa) expresses deep concern over persistent institutional gaps confronting survivors of rape, defilement, domestic violence and human trafficking in Abia State, particularly in accessing survivor-centred support, trauma informed care, effective prosecution, safe shelter, psychosocial support and sustainable rehabilitation.
As an organisation currently implementing a project on “Strengthening the Operationalisation of Abia State Rehabilitation of Survivors of Rape, Defilement, Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking Law, 2026”, CHARS-Africa insists that the essence of a progressive legislation is to ensure implementation, which in this case includes to practically access protection, services and justice as provided by the law.
SURVIVORS SHOULD BE PROTECTED BY THE SYSTEM
The fight against Gender-Based-Violence is affected by several legal, social, institutional and economic limitations. Mostly, many survivors do not report violence because of fear, shame, stigma, threats or lack of confidence in the justice system.
Also, survivors continue to encounter situation where they face insensitive treatment, inappropriate questioning, delays and unnecessary demands during reports and investigations by frontline responders
Such practices, if established, remains unacceptable as such experiences discourage survivors from reporting, weaken public confidence in law enforcement and can leave perpetrators emboldened.
CHARS-Africa therefore calls for mandatory, continuous and practical survivor-centred and trauma-informed GBV case-management training for, police officers assigned to GBV and sexual-offence cases and, other stakeholders.
CHARS-AFRICA DEMANDS ACTION
CHARS-Africa therefore calls on the Abia State Government and relevant institutions to urgently:
*Fully strengthen the operationalisation of the Abia State Rehabilitation of Survivors of Rape, Defilement, Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking Law, 2026, stipulating clear implementation guidelines, institutional responsibilities and sustainable funding mechanisms. *Adequately implement the 2026 Law, to establish a centre that will provide survivor support services; safe emergency and shelter for, particularly children and high-risk survivors.
*Strengthen NCHEDO SARC and develop functional survivor support services that will connect survivors to medical, forensic, psychosocial, legal, investigation and rehabilitation services in line with the legal provision for its establishment.
Mandate extensive survivor-centred and trauma informed care in GBV trainings for IPOs, police legal officers, prosecutors, social workers and other frontline responders.
Make the Sex Offenders Register functional, properly maintained and integrated into the broader safeguarding and criminal-justice system, subject to due process and applicable privacy protections.
Institute awareness raising mechanism to checkmate social and cultural norms that discourage survivors from seeking help, stigma and victim blaming.
Institutionalise meaningful government–CSO collaboration, recognising frontline civil society organisations as essential partners in survivor referral, monitoring, community prevention and accountability.
Ensure that no survivor is returned to an unsafe environment or an alleged perpetrator merely because of unavailability of adequate shelter. COMMITMENT OF ABIA STATE GOVERNMENT IN THE FIGHT AGAINST GBV
Though CHARS-Africa recognises the efforts of the Abia State Government in intensifying the fight against GBV, the real test of this commitment is to equip the SARC such that it can provide shelter for survivors round the clock as provided for in the Law.
The real test is for frontline responders which impliedly defines Abia’s GBV response: Is the survivor believed? Is the survivor treated with dignity? Is the survivor case properly investigated?
Is evidence preserved? Is the appropriate law applied? Is the survivor protected from retaliation? Do the survivors have access to shelter, healthcare and psychosocial support? And, can they rebuild their lives after the violence?CHARS-Africa therefore urges the Abia State Government, security and justice institutions, health and social-welfare agencies, civil society organisations and development partners to move decisively from policy pronouncements to full operationalisation and implementation of the law, to make for measurable impact.
Signed
Amaka Biachi Esq.
Executive Director, CHARS-Africacharsafrica.ng@gmail.com | +234(0)803-553-2707Facebook: @CHARS-Africa
