L-R: Women Affairs Commissioner, Mrs. Funmi Efuwape,  Speaker's Wife, Mrs. Bolanle Oluomo, Majority Leader Yusuf Sheriff, Governor's Wife, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun, Speaker Olakunle Oluomo,  Dep. Gov. Engr. Naimot Salako-Oyedele, Dep. Spk, Akeem Balogun and a former Speaker Titi Oseni-Gomez during an advocacy visit on campaign against gender based violence during an advocacy visit on the Assembly today in Abeokuta.

By: Our Correspondent

Ogun State House of Assembly has assured relevant stakeholders involved in activism against gender based violence that the 9th Assembly will assist in reviewing the relevant laws to checkmate human rights abuse for the promotion of peaceful co-existence and the elimination of any form of gender based violence in the society.

The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Olakunle Oluomo, gave the assurance today while receiving stakeholders championing the 16 days of activism against gender based violence led by the Wife of the Governor, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun and the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Naimot Salako- Oyedele on an advocacy visit on the Assembly at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

Oluomo assured that even the international day of human rights, which coincided with the campaign against gender based violence was a pointer to the fact that there was need for the Assembly to ensure that all relevant laws that protect human rights needed to be amended to accommodate the current and emerging realities in the country to further protect the people.

While commending the stakeholders including the Wife of the Governor, the Deputy Governor, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Funmi Efuwape and former Speaker Titi Oseni-Gomez amongst others for choosing gender based violence as the focus, the Speaker pointed out that such abuse was being face by women and men daily and all efforts must be geared towards stamping it out of the society. 

He equally challenged the stakeholders to also sponsor a bill that would handle all cases relating to gender based violence and forward same to the Assembly for consideration.

Earlier in their presentations, Mrs Bamidele Abiodun and Mrs. Naimot Salako- Oyedele, sought relevant legislation to stop all forms of gender based violence including battery, bullying, violence against children, women and men as well as other vulnerable groups.

They requested that relevant amendments be carried out on relevant laws in the State to reflect the current realities in the society and help curb all forms of gender based violence. 

In the same vein, Speaker Oluomo has stated that there are relevant operational laws to protect the people against kidnapping, land grabbing, terrorism and other crimes which require the full implementation by the executive arm.

The Speaker stated this while receiving the members of the State chapter of the Campaign for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) led by the National Secretary, Comrade Yinka Folarin, who were on an advocacy visit alongside the National Human Rights Commision led by Comrade Oluwaponmile Sodeinde.

He assured that the Assembly was committed to promoting the rights of all residents of the State, promising more collaboration with the different interest groups at ensuring a better society through the enactment of effective and efficient legislation.

Earlier in their different presentations, Comrades Folarin and Sodeinde noted that the 2021 Human Rights day celebration was in line with the international convention on human rights signed 73 years ago, specifically on December 10, 1948 and  Nigeria being one of the members needed to set machineries in motion to promote equality by according priority to human rights issues.

They sought the need to curb cultism, attacks on teachers and other social vices that were inimical to the growth and development of the nation.