OGSG TO DEVELOP LASTING STRATEGY TO CURB GENDER BASED VIOLENCE

BY Kemi Peters

The Ogun State Government has promised to develop a lasting strategy to curb Gender Based Violence  in Ogun State as the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law Management Committee (VAPPMC) held a retreat to develop an action plan to put an end to the menace.

The Wife of the state Governor, who also is the Chairperson of VAPPMC Mrs Bamidele Abiodun Made this known while delivering the keynote address at the two day retreat organised by the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in collaboration with the Women Advocate Research and Documentation Center (WARDC) for  members of VAPPMC.

Mrs Abiodun emphasised the need to act fast, to safe the life of our girls and women in Ogun state and the nation as a whole, saying gender based violence has been on enormous increase in the past few months.

She said "gender based violence has portrayed the nation in bad light. Over the past few months there had been enormous increase in the numbers of cases of sexual assaults, rape and murder of young girls and women in Ogun state and the nation as a whole.

She then proposed a three part agenda for the committee which included, Education and Social Protection, Emergency Response and Reporting, as well as Training for Law Enforcement Agents.

Earlier the Hon Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Funmilayo Efuwape in her welcome address emphasized that the most common act of violence occurring in Nigeria was against women and girl child and it included sexual harassment, rape, physical violence, harmful traditional practices, emotional and psychological violence among others.

Efuwape added that her ministry has been working with groups and non governmental organization to campaign against gender based violence in the state, while calling on individuals and organisation to further support in the fight against the menace.

She said her ministry has organised a step down sensitization training for stakeholders, community leaders, men of the NURTW, AMORANS, NATA and Market leaders on the VAPP LAW, and would not relent until all the stakeholders understand the need to fight against the evil act of Violence against women and girl child in Ogun state and the nation as a whole.

Kemi Peters