The Ogun State Government has urged citizens to support victims of Gender-Based Violence and form a team to apprehend perpetrators when identified, in order to put an end to the harmful practice.

          Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Funmilayo Efuwape disclosed this in Abeokuta at a sensitisation talk organised by the Ministry in collaboration with United Nations Population Funds (UNFPA) in commemoration of year 2021 16 Days Activism on Elimination of All forms of Violence Against Women and Girls.

          Speaking on this year's theme; "Orange the World: End Violence Against Women and Girls", Efuwape said the State government is committed to curb the menace with full enforcement of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law (VAPP).

          She added that the purpose of the programme was to gather needed information in the cause of fighting the scourge, adding that VAPP Law now has a simplified version to improve the knowledge of the citizens on all forms of violence.

          Contributing, a seasoned Lawyer, Mr. Damola Lapite said the provision of VAPP Law has widened the scope of rape to include; intentional use of force to have canal knowledge of another person with any other part of his or her body or anything else, adding that anything that open up a person to economic abuse were situations the Law covers.

In his own contribution, the present state coordinator of UNFPA, Mr. Babajide Akindele, appreciated the members of the Gender Based Violence Response Network Team for being up and doing, urging them to keep the good work in order to eradicate the menace from the society. 

    One of the participants, a Gender-Based Violence Response Network Team member, Mrs. Mosunmola Majekodunmi appreciated the government for organising the sensitisation talk to enlighten the citizens, urging victims to speak out when necessary.

 Also in attendance was the outgoing State coordinator for UNFPA, Mr. Olukayode Banjo.