‘Let’s join Hands in fighting Against Sexual Abuse in Osun’ Hon Awolowo Charges Participants.
By Samuel Abioye
The Honourable Commissioner for Women,Children and Social Welfare, Honourable Mrs. Ayo Awolowo has charged relevant stakeholders to assist in the fight against Violence against women, girl child and persons with disability in the state
The Commissioner stated this during a day training of key stakeholders in developing an action plan on sexual exploitation and abuse.
The Director ,Gender Affairs,Ms Lola Adewale who represented the honourable commissioner lamented high rate of gender violence in the society and assured the participants that her office is working tirelessly to ensure that gender violence is eradicated in Osun’ State.
Earlier,the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry,Barrister (Mrs) Abimbola Babatunde has charged members of staff in the ministry to ensure that accurate reportage of cases of domestic violence is enhanced.
A legal luminary, Barrister Titiloye, in his paper presentation titled ‘Legal Responses to Gender Based Violence and Sexual Harassment:The Role of State VAAP law in ensuring Justice listed types of Domestic violence to include Verbal, Emotional, Sexual, Economic and Mental violence. The causal effect of these evil are on Male and female children that could lead to marital instability, infidelity and mental imbalance.
He equally stated Legal provisions against offenders of the violent acts and entouraged participants to work on the same direction with Judiciary and Civil Society Organisation in curbing this menace.
The programme consultant and a lecturer from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife while coordinating development of the Action Plan Dr. Paul Awoniyi highlighted five major areas of Action Plan such as Awareness and Establishment of Safe places, ;how to Report and Respond adequately; engagement of Law Enforcement agencies ; promotion of Monitoring and Evaluation to identify if the required results are achieved .
Also,he identified development of framework for Resources mobilisation.collaboration through sensitization on the evils and damages which the action may cause.
The Programme had in attendance Directors of Social Development in the thirty Local Government and the area council, Non Governmental Agency, ministry of women affairs, children and social welfare and ministry of health and Justice.
