As part of activities marking its week, the International Federation of Women Lawyers, Oyo State branch recently organized a lecture to stem the menace of Gender-Based Violence against women and children in the State.
The lecture tagged “The Nigerian Child and Woman: A Bleak or A bright Future?” was held at the Aare Afe Babalola Bar Centre, Iyaganku, Ibadan.
The Association’s Chairperson in Oyo State, Mrs. Folake Ajayi, in her welcome address disclosed that FIDA as a non-governmental and nonprofit oriented organization of women founded in 1944 and brought to Nigeria in 1964 with the objectives of promoting, protecting, and preservation of rights of women and children. She added that an acronym, FIDA was derived from Spanish words, Federacion Internacional De Abogadas (FIDA).
Mrs. Ajayi stated that the association is more committed to raising the standard of women and children’s rights by freeing them from any form of discrimination, violence and abuse in the society through the use of legal framework. She noted that the association has embarked on public enlightenment campaign at Araada market in Ogbomoso, as well as being to various public primary schools across the state on the need to stop domestic violence and how to recognize potential sexual abusers and avoiding being sexually abused.
The chairperson has, in the mean time, commended efforts of the 7th National Assembly and the present House of Assembly in Oyo State under the leadership of Rt. Hon. Michael Adeyemo for enacting the law, Violence Against Women Prohibition Act, 2015, which prohibits women against all forms of violence in the state and country at large.
Mrs. Folake Ajayi, therefore, called on the Oyo State government to speed up action by giving necessary support to the ministries charged with the responsibility of gazette for the full and proper implementation of the law.
In their paper presentations on capacity development prerequisite for fighting worthy causes of women and children, Founder, Gender Relevance Initiative Promotion (GRIP), Mrs. Rita Ilevbare and Mr. Sola Fagorusi of Youth Development Advocate and Programme Manager established that it is imperative for lawyers to build their capacity in order to be able to tackle issues of abuse against women and children in the society.
Mrs. Ilevbare identified cultural and religion barriers, economic status, silence, ignorance, stigmatization and non enforcement of laws against culprits of Gender-Based Violence offence as major factors contributing to increasing rate of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) against women and children.
She listed trauma, depression, low self esteem, injuries, infections, unwanted pregnancies, death and many more as consequences of Gender-Based Violence.
Mrs. Ilevbare pointed CEDAW, 1979, Convention on the rights of the child (1990), Beijing Platform for Action (1995) and Declaration on violence against women (1993) as some legal frameworks set up to eliminate Gender-Based Violence against women.
Meanwhile, an ex-Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Oyo State, Bayo Ojo has charged FIDA to work in collaboration with other non-governmental organizations with the purpose of bringing bright future for Nigeria women and children.
Some of the notable and frontline personalities in the legal profession in attendance included the Pioneer Chairperson of FIDA, Chief P. C. Ajayi-Obe (SAN), Mrs. Funso Adegbola, Mrs. Adijat Titi-Maliq of Mother and Child Initiative, Oyo State NAWOJ Chairperson, Foluso Lala and NBA Chairman, Ibadan branch, Akeem Agbaje, represented by his vice.
Packaged by Kunle Gazali
