The UNODC Country Representative in Nigeria, Cheikh Touré, made the call while delivering his opening remarks at the Second Expert Group Meeting on the Development of a Toolkit for First Emergency Responders in Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Cases Linked to Terrorism, held in Abuja in collaboration with the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC).
Touré stressed the urgent need to equip emergency responders with practical guidance to identify, document and respond appropriately to sexual violence committed by terrorist groups, while prioritising the safety, dignity and immediate needs of survivors.
He said terrorist organisations deliberately employ sexual and gender-based violence to terrorise, punish and control communities, targeting women and girls in particular, but also men and boys, based on ethnicity, identity and political affiliation.
According to him, the consequences of such violence often persist long after the attacks, with survivors facing stigma, displacement and limited access to healthcare, support services and justice.
He 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 crimes could form part of a deliberate terrorist strategy rather than isolated incidents.
The UNODC representative emphasised that although international frameworks had recognised the link between sexual violence, trafficking and terrorism, the challenge remained translating those commitments into effective action at the national and community levels.
He referenced United Nations Security Council Resolution 2331 of 2016, which addressed the connection between sexual violence, trafficking and terrorism, and Resolution 2467 of 2019, which reinforced the need for a survivor-centred approach to conflict-related sexual violence.
Touré said Nigeria must take ownership of the proposed toolkit by adapting it to local realities and ensuring that responders across the country's 36 states could use it effectively.
“A resolution does not reach a survivor,” he said, stressing that practical action and political commitment were necessary to ensure that survivors received timely assistance and were not left without support.
He explained that first responders often operate under extremely difficult conditions during or immediately after terrorist attacks, including insecurity, mass casualties and shortages of equipment and other essential resources.
These circumstances, he warned, could make it difficult to recognise sexual violence, preserve evidence and connect survivors to appropriate services.
Touré noted that the first hours after an attack could be critical, as evidence might be lost, survivors could become dispersed, and stigma could further discourage victims from seeking assistance.
He urged experts participating in the meeting to ensure that the proposed toolkit was practical and adaptable to different environments, including rural clinics and communities with limited resources.
He also called for clear guidance for police officers, paramedics, civil defence volunteers and community health workers, enabling them to understand their respective responsibilities when responding to suspected cases of terrorism-linked sexual violence.
However, he stressed that the collection and preservation of evidence must never take precedence over the safety and immediate needs of survivors.
“The survivor's safety and immediate needs come first. The case file comes second,” he said, emphasising that evidence must not be obtained at the expense of a survivor's wellbeing or dignity.
The UNODC representative further highlighted the importance of coordination among emergency responders, healthcare providers, specialised support services and justice institutions to prevent survivors from having to repeatedly recount traumatic experiences while seeking assistance.
He said the toolkit should promote respectful treatment, confidentiality, timely referrals and the preservation of evidence where safe and appropriate, thereby strengthening both survivor protection and the prospects of accountability for perpetrators.
Touré commended the NCTC for hosting the meeting and acknowledged the support of the governments of Germany, Israel and Switzerland towards developing the toolkit, as well as the Government of Canada for supporting the meeting.
He reaffirmed UNODC's commitment to working with Nigerian authorities and international partners until the toolkit reaches the frontline responders who need it in Nigeria and other countries affected by terrorism-related sexual violence.
He also expressed confidence that the NCTC could play a leading role in advancing the initiative across the African continent.
The expert group meeting is expected to help refine the toolkit and strengthen practical responses to sexual and gender-based violence associated with terrorism, with emphasis on survivor-centred care, effective evidence management, inter-agency coordination and access to justice.
