GENDER BASED VIOLENCE AND THE NECESSITY FOR ENHANCED REGULATORY INTERVENTION

Sexual violence is an extensive and deeply distressing crime that poses significant challenges to the criminal justice systems globally, particularly in Nigeria, and this is often committed in private, without witnesses, and under conditions where victims face social stigmatization and psychological trauma which could range from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other traumatic related issues, such crimes are infamously difficult to investigate and prosecute, It remains a pervasive and deeply rooted issue in Nigeria, cutting across social, economic and cultural boundaries, This study explores the prevalence , causes and consequences of sexual violence crimes in the country, examining both the systemic failures and cultural attitudes that enables it's persistence, it examines the application of forensic evidence as an essential tool in detecting and prosecuting sexual violence crimes, focusing on how scientific methods can improve the effectiveness and credibility of investigations and legal proceedings worldwide, with particular focus on Nigeria, with the primary aim to explore how forensic techniques such as DNA analysis, toxicology, fingerprint, forensic pathology,crime scene reconstruction, and expert testimony and other forensic techniques can assist law enforcement agencies and the judiciary in obtaining objective and more accurate evidence in sexual offence cases. Furthermore, this study seeks to identify the forensic methods most relevant to such crimes, assess the challenges inhibiting their effective application in Nigeria, and propose legal and institutional reforms to enhance their uses.