..Says ‘Rape Epidemic’ Must Stop in Ekiti
The Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Olubunmi Adelugba, had enlisted the support of traditional rulers, security agencies, judiciary, media and other stakeholders to reduce Gender-Based Violence in the state.
Speaking on Monday at a Special Plenary Session held by the Assembly on Prevention of Gender-Based Violence, the Speaker insisted that the epidemic of rape and other forms of sexual offences must end in Ekiti State.
According to a statement by the Special Adviser on Media to the Speaker, Odunayo Ogunmola, the special plenary session was attended and chaired by the First Lady of Ekiti State, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji as part of activities marking the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.
Rt. Hon. Adelugba said she was alarmed and concerned that despite a robust legislative and policy intervention in the state, Gender-Based Violence, sexual and domestic violence appear to continue unabated in across communities in the state.
She called for more vigorous and effective prosecution of sex offenders and other violators of Gender-Based Violence to end the culture of impunity and foster a culture of justice for the victims and deterrent for the offenders and potential offenders.
The Speaker noted that the Assembly has representatives from all the twenty six (26) constituencies in the state, noting that the parley would made honourable members to take the message home to their constituents on the existence of laws and penalties against Gender-Based Violence.
Rt Hon Adelugba disclosed that the Assembly has enacted laws like Gender Based Violence (Prohibition) Law 2019, Sexual Violence Against Children (Compulsory Treatment and Care) Law 2020 and Child Rights Law 2012, among others as legislations aimed at fighting the scourge to a stand still.
Statements from the three Senatorial districts were delivered at the special Session by the Deputy Speaker, Rt Hon Hakeem Jamiu, for Central, Hon Teju Okuyiga, for South and Hon Akin Oso, for North Senatorial district.
The immediate past Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Olawale Fapohunda, SAN presented an overview on Gender Based Violence in the state and what the state government had been doing to curb the incidence.
Fapohunda said the incidence of rape had assumed an alarming dimension which prompted the implementation of Name and Shame policy against sex offenders and opening of Sexual Offenders Register.
The Senior Advocate pointed out that gender based violence and rape offenders include the learned and the unlearned, highly placed individuals, lowly individuals, clergymen, lecturers, teachers, civil servants, among others.
He explained that gender based violence happen in all the local government areas of the state which called for a concerted effort to tackle the incidence.
The event was attended by the Wife of Ekiti State Governor, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji, stakeholders from Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Women Affairs, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, the Judiciary, the Nigerian Bar Association and Civil Society Organizations.
In her remarks, the Wife of the Governor, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji described Gender Based Violence as a crime against humanity and the society, and called on all stakeholders to address the menace once and for all.
She praised the Assembly for organizing the special program and expressed hope that the session will go a long way in shaping the next line of action on Gender Based Violence in Ekiti State.
Justice Toyin Abodunde spoke on the Role of the Judiciary on Gender Based Violence, Dr C F Ogundipe on Getting the Statistics Right – Role of Academia, and Barr. Rita Ilevbare on Advocacy and the Role of Civil Society.
Goodwill messages were also delivered at the occasion by the State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Rev. (Dr) E. A Aribasoye and Chairman of Civil Society Organisation, C T Oluwadare among others.