Towards improving access to safe abortion services within legal framework, Ogun State Government through the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, has partnered a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Centre For Bridging Gap (CBHG), towards ensuring the implementation of Safe Termination of Pregnancy (STOP) guidelines and Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAAPP) law in the state.

Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Adijat Adeleye, in her address at a day Seminar, organised by CBHG for stakeholders, at the Mitros Hall, Ibara, Housing Estate, Abeokuta, said the Ministry would step up its enlightenment campaign to ensure awareness of STOP guidelines and VAPP law in the state.

Adeleye noted that it was necessary that all relevant stakeholders, including, healthcare providers, law enforcement agencies and social support workers among others, were conversant with these guidelines and laws, to enable them develop actionable recommendations for standardising practicable process for its implementation, informing that that some abortions could be unavoidable in cases where the physical, mental and psychological health status of victims were affected.

          According to her, the Prince Dapo Abiodun-led administration has zero tolerance to any form of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) by making concerted efforts towards reducing the menace and supporting the need for a trust fund to take care of victims.

She advocated for a special court to prosecute GBV offenders, child labour and child abuse cases, adding that three additional referrals centres had been established in the three Senatorial Districts of the state, as well as provision of shelters to house victims and a toll-free line to call in GBV cases.    

     Speaking on the VAPP law, Special Assistant to the Governor on Legal Matters, Mr. Fuyi Osofisan, explained that the law was enacted to protect the fundamental rights of every citizen and reduce the menace of GBV in the state, stressing the need for public enlightenment, to sensitise people on the law that protects them.

The convener of the seminar and the Executive Director of CBHG, Dr. Moriam Jagun, called for linkage between the STOP guidelines and the VAPP law to fast-track actionable steps for the protection of right of individual to access a safe abortion within the legal framework.

Dr. Jagun further emphasised that stakeholders needed to be updated, as well as increase collaboration and coordination in actualising the guidelines to ensure reduced mortality rate on females who got pregnant out of their own volition, render legal protection and social service supports that women could benefit from, emphasising that these partnerships were crucial in efforts to strengthening the bid to provide comprehensive care and support.

She appreciated the efforts of the state government at ensuring implementation plans on violence against persons, with several victims benefiting from the VAPP law and the state referral centres.

Representatives of participants at the seminar, Dr. Adeola Ekundayo and Rev. Jide Odugbemi, noted that the seminar was apt, considering the level of sexual abuses on females, especially young ones, expressing confidence that the awareness would break barriers of the victims while restoring their sanity.