Concerned by the rising spate of sexual assaults, especially rape cases across the country, the Ogun State House of Assembly has assured of its readiness to partner with all organs of government, interest groups and private individuals in protecting the rights of girl child, women and other vulnerable groups in the State against abuse in whatever form.
The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Olakunle Oluomo gave the assurance while addressing a delegation comprising of past and present female political office holders and spouses of government functionaries led by the wife of the Governor, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun, during an advocacy visit to the Assembly.
He pointed out that the 9th Assembly was ready to enact more legislations and amend existing laws. where necessary to provide stiffer measures against offenders in line with modern practices in order to create effective policy for the prevention of violence against the girl child, women and men.
The Speaker, accompanied by other lawmakers noted that the rising cases of sex abuse had called for an inter agency collaboration towards ensuring a holistic approach in putting in place à more effective legislations meant to give stiffer penalties for perpetrators of sexual violence, promising that any of such impending bills would always receive accelerated passage by the State lawmakers.
He pointed out that the Assembly in the past, had passed bills on child rights and violence against persons amongst others, assuring that the ninth Assembly was ready to amend any of the bills to further promote good conduct in the society.
Earlier in her remarks, the Wife of the Governor, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun canvassed for more viable laws that would save the female folk from further disgrace, adding that such legislations should spell out more punitive measures against perpetrators of rape in the State, while calling for other policies to protect women from potential rapists including the creation of a ‘sex offenders’ register’.
She solicited the supports of developmental partners in the fight against the scourge, stressing that measures should be put in place to protect victims of sexual violence and child abuse amongst others.
Packaged by Hazeez Ayansola
