The Oyo State House of Assembly’s Committee on Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Ministries of Women Affairs and Social Development and Justice and other relevant stakeholders have resolved to put an end to child abuse, violence against women and other related offences in the state.
The resolve was made round the three bills; Child Sexual Offence Bill, 2019, Oyo State Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Response Team and Redder Centre Bill, 2020 and Violence Against Persons Prohibition Bill, 2019.
The stakeholders’ meeting was organized by the Oyo State House of Assembly Committee on Women Affairs and Social Inclusion at House of Chief, Secretariat, Ibadan on Tuesday.
In her address, Chairman of the committee, Hon. Bimbo Oladeji, who is also the sponsor of the two bills, disclosed that violence and sexual related offences have serious physical, psychological and social consequences not only on the victims but also the families and entire communities.
The lawmaker expressed that the bills when passed into law will prohibit all forms of violence and ensure maximum protection and effective remedies and punishments for offenders.
Oladeji maintained that Violence Against Persons’ Bill is to protect the interest of both men and women in the society, noting that rate at which violence increases these days is very alarming and that is what prompted her to sponsor the bills to put an end or reduced to barest minimum cases of violence in Oyo State.
Committee Chairman commended the state Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde for the proposition of Gender-Based Violence Referral and Respond Centre to promote strategies and combat gender-based violence cases.
Oladeji appreciated the efforts of non-governmental organizations for the campaign against child abuse, rape and other related matters.
While presenting the position of the ministry, the state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Alhaja Faosat Sanni, said that humanitarian protection and assistance needs have increased as a result of increase in the rate of violence since the COVID-19 pandemic started.
She explained that the responsibilities of the ministry are to promote the rights and wellbeing of women, children, the aged, people with disabilities, destitute and the less privileged, as well as coordinating prevention and responses for sexual and gender-based violence in the state.
While commending the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Inclusion on its effort to ensure speedy passage of the bills, the Commissioner emphasized that the Rapid Response Team will provide prompt responses to reported cases of sexual and physical abuse, child labour, trafficking, neglect and battery.
The state’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Lowo Oyewo, in the submission of the ministry, indicated that the implementation of the bill will bring on board the Nigeria Police Force and caregivers.
The Commissioner urged the Committee on Women Affairs to consider the Child rights Law 2006 in its deliberations to avoid inconsistency in the passage and implementation of the bill when becomes law.
Other stakeholders present at the meeting included the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and relevant non-governmental organizations.
Packaged by by Kunle Gazali
