The Rivers State Government has launched a Sexual Assault
Referral Centre (SARC) to provide support and care to survivors of sexual violence.
The centre, which is the brainchild of the Rivers State Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, is a one-stop centre aimed at providing a safe space for victims to access medical, psychological, and legal assistance.
Speaking at the official launch in the State’s Safe Home at Borokiri, Port- Harcourt, Governor Siminilayi Fubara represented by the Rivers State Head of Service, Dr Inyingi Brown said, the centre will be the first point of support to victims of sexual violence and reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring justice and providing relief for victims of sexual assault in the State.
The Head of Service, who was in turn represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Barr. Tomoniala Dieokuma-Ishmael, stated that the centre will tackle the rising issue of sexual violence in the state, noting that its commissioning marks a crucial milestone in providing vital support to victims who previously suffered in silence, lacked access to proper care, and often faced further victimization and injustice.
In her address at the event, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Lauretta Davies-Dimkpa, said the SARC is fully equipped and ready to handle all forms of assault, with the support of key partners including the Medical Women’s Association, MWAN, International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), and the Police.
In her words, “It is the beginning of hope, healing, and justice for countless individuals whose voices deserve to be heard, believed, and supported,”
“This centre stands as a symbol of our collective commitment to ending sexual violence and creating a society where survivors are given compassion and care, she stated ”
Lauretta Davies-Dimkpa encouraged individuals who have experienced sexual abuse to visit the centre for prompt assistance and intervention.
In her goodwill message, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, represented by Prof. Justina Jumbo, the immediate past Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, commended the Ministry’s efforts and called for intensified public awareness campaigns through the media, advocacy, and social mobilization to spread the message of the Sexual Assault Referral Centre’s existence and services.
In an interview with the Director, Office of the Public Defender, Ministry of Justice, who is also the Coordinator of the Multi stakeholders Action Committee on Gender based Violence in Rivers State, Barrister Evelyn Membere- Asimiea commended the state government for establishing the centre, describing it as “a dream come true” and a major step towards achieving justice for victims of sexual assault in the State.
She pledged to provide free legal services, defend victims, and prosecute perpetrators in ensuring the centre’s success and provide a beacon of hope for those who’ve suffered in silence for too long.
The commissioning had in attendance representatives from the Rivers State Family Court, FIDA, MWAN, Association of Women Journalists, (NAWOJ), security agencies, including the Police, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Others are National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, (NAPTIP), Child Protection Network (CPN), Association of Orphanages and Home Operators in Nigeria, (ASOHON) and Association of Orphans and Vulnerable Children, (AONN), among others.
