OYO: Govt to scale up prosecution of perpetrators of gender-based violence

THE state Rapid Response Team on Gender-Based Violence said it recorded a total of 692 cases of gender-based violence between March 2020 and February 2021.

The team disclosed that physical abuse, rape and child labour cases were predominant within the period under review.

Other cases reported by the RRTGBV under the state Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Inclusion are abandonment, defilement, attempted rape, rescued and intimate partners violence.

According to the body, the victims of the reported cases of violence were majorly female, with a total of 418 survivors between ages 0 to 17 years out of 692 cases recorded.

While presenting the report of activities on behalf of the Rapid Response Team in the last one year of its inauguration at the Conference Room of the Ministry on Saturday in Ibadan, the Chairman of the Committee, Marcus Williams, stressed the need to respond to the plights of girl child and women promptly.

Explaining that women and girl child are the most vulnerable to gender-based violence in the society, Williams said cases of gender-based violence would no longer be treated with levity in Oyo State as the government had vowed to invoke the law against perpetrators.

He stated that most of the reported cases happened in the rural communities, hence the need to collaborate with community leaders and sensitise them on the role to play in reducing the menace.

“The society has to rise up and take up responsibility. Parents should see this as a clarion call for them to take good care of their kids in the areas of moral upbringing and basic education that will give the children direction in life,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Alhaja Faosat Sanni, buttressed Williams’ claim.

She said the state government has vowed to invoke the law against perpetrators of gender-based violence.

Faosat Sanni, who was  represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs Christiana Abioye, said cases of gender violence will no longer be treated with kid gloves in the state.

She said, “We have laws on ground against perpetrators and we will ensure that necessary actions and punishments are meted out to them.

“Recall that recently, the Executive Governor of Oyo state, Engr. Seyi Makinde assented to a bill that guarantees protection and equal right for all irrespective of gender, age or tribe,  it is called Violence Against Person Prohibition (VAAP) bill, which addresses the issues of men, women, boy-child and girl-child; it is all-encompassing as it will also provide succor to men who are also gender based violence victims.”