Dr. Asmau Benzies Leo 
…A Step in Ensuring Justice and Safer Spaces for the Girl Child
The Nigerian Senate has taken a historic step toward strengthening the fight against sexual violence by passing an amendment to the Criminal Code Act (Amendment) Bill, 2025 which prescribes life imprisonment for anyone convicted of raping a minor, this took place on Tuesday, October 22nd, 2025.
The amendment represents one of the most significant legal reforms in recent years, aimed at deterring sexual offenders and reinforcing Nigeria’s commitment to protecting children and women from abuse and exploitation.
Under the new provision, CSOs are demanding that the offence previously referred to as defilement should now be legally recognised as “rape of a minor” with a penalty of life imprisonment without the option of fine. This would mark a clear shift from the earlier five-year maximum sentence, reflecting the gravity of the crime and the need for stronger deterrence.
The Senate also approved a minimum sentence of ten years for other forms of rape and sexual assault, ensuring that perpetrators of sexual violence face more stringent punishment. This reform aligns Nigeria’s justice system with international human rights standards and strengthens its commitment to the protection of children under the Convention on the Rights of the Child (The Child Rights Act) and other related frameworks as the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and Violence against Persons Prohibition Act (VAPP Act).
Now Justice Must Work for Survivors
While the new legislation is a step forward, its effectiveness will depend on how it translates into justice for survivors. Across many communities, victims of rape continue to face stigma, fear, and institutional barriers that prevent them from reporting abuse or accessing help. Ensuring justice therefore requires a survivor-centered approach; one that prioritises safety, confidentiality, and access to medical, psychosocial, and legal services. Effective referral pathways must be established in every community to link survivors to GBV service providers such as health centres, police gender desks, social welfare offices, and credible civil society organisations providing support. When survivors know where to turn, and when the system responds swiftly and compassionately, the culture of silence begins to break, and trust in justice institutions is restored.
The Need to Creating Safe Schools and Safer Environments
The Senate’s move also underscores the importance of prevention, especially within schools and communities where children spend most of their time. Too often, incidents of sexual abuse occur in places meant to be safe; classrooms, hostels, and homes.
To complement the new law, there is an urgent need to strengthen safe school frameworks across the country. Every educational institution must begin to have clear safeguarding policies, codes of conduct for teachers and staff, and designated protection officers trained to handle reports of abuse. Schools must also integrate regular awareness sessions on consent, boundaries, and the right to protection from harm. Such preventive efforts not only reduce risks but also empower students, particularly girls, to speak out against abuse.
The Role of Communities and Institutions
Legislation alone cannot end sexual violence. Communities must play a vital role in prevention, early reporting, and rehabilitation of survivors. Traditional and religious institutions and leaders, community associations, and local government structures must actively participate in promoting child protection and denouncing sexual abuse. Law enforcement agencies must also receive continuous training on handling rape cases with professionalism and empathy. Medical and psychosocial service providers equally need capacity building to respond to survivors’ needs without discrimination, judgment or victim blaming.
Furthermore, fast-track courts for sexual violence cases can help reduce delays in prosecution and prevent survivors from reliving trauma through prolonged trials.
A Turning Point for the Girl Child
The Senate’s action is not just a legislative reform, it is a moral declaration that the safety and dignity of the Nigerian child are non-negotiable. By replacing lenient sentences with life imprisonment for rape of minors, the nation is sending a clear signal that sexual violence will no longer be met with silence or impunity. The amendment reaffirms the duty of government and society to create an environment where every child, especially the girl child, can grow, learn, and thrive without fear of violation. It also reminds citizens that justice is not achieved by punishment alone but through prevention, protection, and care for survivors.
As the bill awaits final harmonization and presidential assent, stakeholders across all sectors must ensure that this victory in the legislature becomes a living reality in every school, home, and community in Nigeria. And when fully implemented, this law will not only punish offenders but also help build safer communities, strengthen reporting systems, and restore hope to survivors who have long been denied justice.
Dr. Asmau Benzies Leo is a development practitioner with extensive national and international expertise in gender equality, peace-building, governance, and humanitarian action. She holds a PhD in Public Governance and Leadership, a Master’s degree in Conflict Management and Peace Studies, and executive certifications from leading institutions including Howard University, Harvard University and Glasgow Caledonian University. As Executive Director of the Centre for Non-violence and Gender Advocacy in Nigeria (CENGAIN), she has led ground-breaking advocacy initiatives on women’s political participation, gender-based violence prevention, and security sector reform across multiple World Bank, UN and EU-supported projects.