The Ondo State Government on Tuesday expressed concern over the increasing violence and discrimination against women in the state but said the state is working on measures to attend to rape and other forms of Gender- Based Violence (GBV) in the state.
The Special Adviser disclosed this on Gender to Ondo State Governor, Mrs Olamide Falana, who said words could not win Gender Based Violence but rather by commitment backed by funding.
According to her, the state government has taken the campaign on gender-based violence and child protection policy to grassroots communities.
Falana stated this in Akure, Ondo state capital, during a programme organised by the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), tagged: “Enhancement of the capacity of state institutions for effective implementation of laws to promote inclusion, gender equality and reverse GBV”
According to her, the state was one of the leading states in response to GBV with the passage of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) law in 2021 and with the establishment of the Ondo State Agency Against Gender-Based Violence (OSAA-GBV).
She noted that the First Lady of Ondo State, Mrs Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, has been championing the crusade to eradicate Gender Based Violence in the state saying the first lady has been working with the agency to ensure the political will required to win the fight against “the GBV monsters.”
She said, “This has helped the state agency record huge success in raising awareness about GBV across the state, prosecution of suspects, and care psychosocial support for the victims,”
Falana, while quoting data available on the dashboard of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs as of June 2023, said,” There are 17,848 reported cases of GBV, 779 fatal cases, 1,146 closed cases, 5,716 open cases, and 248 convicted perpetrators while Ondo has 158 reported cases.”
“Above data may seem like figures but mirrors the number of persons who have been raped, assaulted, molested, economically suppressed, politically deprived, socially stigmatised, mentally defied and who all carry the scars of the crime against their persons, some which may never heal in their lifetime.
“This explains the need for continuous coordination of the state GBV response, with a mantra to leave no one behind in the train of capacity building and awareness creation and as well leave no stone unturned in obtaining justice and succor for the affected and negatively impacted persons.
“As we go forward as a state, it is important for the handlers of the sector, such as the security operatives and prosecutors, to be aware of what they can do in their various commands and agencies towards enhancing the collective prevention of GBV.
“Keeping in mind that words cannot win the fight against GBV but rather by commitment backed by funding,” he said.
Earlier, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Sir Charles Titiloye, commended the WFD for its support in the awareness and implementation of the law in the state and said Child right and VAPP laws had brought to the bearest minimum cases of violence against children and women in the state.
He noted that the state was gradually being freed of sexual offenses, unlike in the past, “today, we have a law that has an agency that will enforce it.
“We have an agency that works with WFD. Most states are now adopting our model. We are leading in the fight for equality, and we are setting the pace,”
Also, the Country Director of WFD, Mr Adebowale Olorunmola, said the programme had achieved a lot over eight months since it started.
Olorunmola emphasised the need for gender budgeting through lobbying state assemblies to release funding at different stages for the VAPP Law.
Also, the Senior Special Adviser to the First Lady, Mrs Temitope Daniya, appreciated WFD for the effort and struggle in the passage of the law.
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