Kayode ShopekanLAGOS State First Lady, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu has charged stakeholders to be more committed in the fight against sexual abuse to complement the state governments zero tolerance policy on all forms of violence against women and girls.
Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu encouraged all stakeholders to support the fight against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), saying that the necessary will must be mustered to completely stamp out the menace of rape, especially against women and girls.
She made this known at the second phase of the Stakeholders’ Consultative Forum organized by her office for Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Civil Society groups involved in tackling SGBV crimes in the state.
According to a statement by the Assistant Director, Public Affairs, Office of the First Lady, Mrs. Olubukonla Nwonah, the principal aim of the forum was to galvanize action among relevant stakeholders in line with the policy thrust of the state government on zero tolerance for all forms of extreme violence against women, girls, children, and also men and boys.
In her words. “my motto in my secondary school is ‘action not words.’ A lot of talks, a lot of policies have been put in place. For me, it’s time to act more, be faster and be more proactive and that is what we are trying to do.”
Dr. Sanwo-Olu who noted it was always painful to hear of sexual abuse cases, commended the state Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on the recent signing of the Bill to establish the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency into law, and the appointment of an Executive Secretary in the person of Mrs. Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, to lead the new agency.
According to her, “it is inspiring that the law, which also establishes the Sex Offenders Register, has finally become operational in the state and it is hoped that this will provide a quantum leap in terms of the legal framework to significantly and frontally tackle the menace of domestic and sexual violence, name and shame perpetrators and most importantly provide adequate medical and legal support to the victims,” she said.
The forum was well attended by NGOs and Civil Society groups in the state including Mirabel Centre, Project Alert On Violence Against Women, Women At Risk International Foundation(WARIF), Bimbo Odukoya Foundation, International Federation Of Female Lawyers, Day Spring Helps Ministry, Jashabel Touch A Heart, Eagles Wings Development, Vision Spring Initiatives, Ceceyara Foundation, Child To Child Network, Heartminders Societal, Women Law And Development Centre Nigeria, Women’s Consortium Of Nigeria (WOCON), Women’s Right And Health Project, Community Women’s Rights, African Peace And Conflict Management Foundation, Wuraola Foundation, Safe Haven Children’s Foundation, Stand To End Rape Initiative, Community Health Support And Empowerment Initiative, Humanity Family Foundation For Peace And Development, Virginspride Foundation, Rubis Ink Initiative, Real Women Foundation, and Pukiche Girl Foundation.
Others are God’s Home For Women Foundation, Media Concern Initiatives For Women And Children, African Women Lawyers Association, Center For Corrections And Human Development, Center For Sex Education And Family Life, Chamagne Foundation, Iyaniwura Children Care Foundation, Tonia Bruised But Not Broken, Youth Empowerment Foundation, Bina Al-Amal Foundation, Women Arise For Change, Women Advocates Research And Documentation Centre(Ward C), Child Protection Network, and Centre For Children’s Health Education Orientation And Protection.
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