By Olayemi Esan,
Nigeria’s National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and international partners, has convened a second expert group meeting in Abuja to develop a practical toolkit for first emergency responders handling cases of sexual and gender-based violence linked to terrorism.
The initiative seeks to equip police officers, military personnel, paramedics, medical teams, civil defence volunteers and community responders with practical guidance for identifying, documenting and preserving evidence of sexual violence while protecting survivors’ rights, safety and dignity.
NCTC: Survivors’ Dignity Must Remain Paramount
In his welcome address, the National Coordinator of the NCTC, Major General Adamu Garba Laka, said terrorism-related sexual and gender-based violence had consequences extending beyond the immediate scene of an attack, leaving survivors with physical injuries, psychological distress, stigma and difficulties rebuilding their lives.
Laka said first emergency responders occupied a critical position because they could be the first to recognise that sexual violence had occurred, receive disclosures from survivors and connect them with medical care and protection services.
He noted, however, that responders frequently worked under intense pressure, with limited resources and competing demands.
According to him, the proposed toolkit would strengthen the connection between emergency assistance, survivor protection and the preservation of information that could support subsequent investigations and prosecutions.
He emphasised that urgent care, privacy, dignity and appropriate referrals must guide every initial response, adding that responders should understand the limits of their responsibilities and know when to seek specialist assistance.
Laka disclosed that the two-day meeting would provide an opportunity for experts from different countries and professional disciplines to review the revised draft toolkit, assess its practical application and discuss its finalisation, dissemination and implementation.
He reaffirmed the NCTC’s commitment to partnerships that integrate survivor protection into Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts.
Speaking at the meeting, the UNODC Country Representative in Nigeria, Cheikh Touré, said terrorist groups deliberately used sexual and gender-based violence to terrorise, punish and control communities, with women and girls particularly affected, although men and boys were also targeted.
He said the consequences of such crimes often persisted long after attacks, leaving survivors to contend with stigma, displacement, psychological trauma and barriers to healthcare and justice.
Touré cited the abduction of 276 schoolgirls from Chibok, Borno State, in April 2014, as a stark example of terrorism-related sexual violence, noting that the forced marriages and sexual enslavement that followed demonstrated how such abuses could form part of a deliberate terrorist strategy.
He stressed that the challenge was global and not limited to any particular religion, ideology or terrorist organisation, making international cooperation and the sharing of practical experience essential to developing an effective response.
According to him, international commitments must translate into practical assistance for survivors, particularly in countries such as Nigeria, where first responders often operate under difficult conditions and with limited resources.
“A resolution does not reach a survivor,” Touré said, emphasising the need for Nigeria to domesticate the toolkit and adapt it to local realities so that survivors across the country’s 36 states could access appropriate support.
He explained that the first hours following a terrorist attack were critical because evidence could be lost, survivors could become dispersed, and the signs of sexual violence might go unrecognised by emergency personnel who had not received specialised training.
However, he insisted that the immediate safety and welfare of survivors must take precedence over evidence collection.
“The survivor’s safety and immediate needs come first. The case file comes second,” he said.
Touré urged experts to ensure that the toolkit would be applicable in both urban centres and remote communities, with clear responsibilities for emergency responders and effective coordination among healthcare providers, security agencies, specialised support services and justice institutions.
He also called for a survivor-centred approach that would protect confidentiality, preserve dignity, facilitate access to medical care and reduce the risk of further harm.
In a goodwill message delivered virtually, Anne Mosimann-Girardet, Senior Legal Adviser at the Directorate of International Law of Switzerland’s Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, said the actions taken during the initial response to sexual violence could have lasting consequences for survivors and the prospects of holding perpetrators accountable.
She said first responders needed clear, practical and human rights-based guidance to balance urgent medical and protection needs with the preservation of potentially crucial evidence.
Mosimann-Girardet reaffirmed Switzerland’s support for the initiative alongside Germany and Israel, describing the toolkit as an important step towards strengthening accountability and addressing impunity for sexual and gender-based violence linked to terrorism.
Also speaking, Sarah Weiss-Ma’udi, Special Envoy for Women, Peace and Security at Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the toolkit was designed to provide practical guidance that could be adapted to different operational environments, from remote villages in northeastern Nigeria to major cities.
She said it could support military personnel, police officers, civil defence teams, medical workers, local authorities and community responders in identifying sexual violence, preserving evidence and helping survivors access justice.
Weiss-Ma’udi recounted her visit to Borno State earlier in the year, where she witnessed the human cost of the Boko Haram insurgency and met communities affected by abductions, loss of family members, destruction of homes and sexual violence.
She said the dedication of military personnel, local authorities, international organisations and women’s groups working to rebuild affected communities had given her hope despite the continuing challenges.
Speaking also, she explained that lessons from cases in which evidence had been lost or tampered with had helped inspire the project.
She said the objective was to develop a universal tool that could be adapted to local cultures, sensitivities and operational realities, while drawing on experiences from different countries.
Weiss-Ma’udi added that she hoped the completed toolkit would be incorporated into training for ambulance personnel, hospital staff, volunteers and other emergency responders in Israel and internationally.
The initiative is expected to strengthen frontline response, improve the preservation of evidence, enhance coordination among relevant institutions and promote a survivor-centred approach to justice for victims of sexual and gender-based violence linked to terrorism.
