16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence: Ondo First Lady Leads Other Groups to Speak Up Against Gender Based Violence
The First Lady of Ondo State, Arabinrin Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu has again raised her voice to speak up against gender based violence in the state saying though a lot of grounds have been covered through the VAPP Law, more ground needs to be covered.
Mrs. Akeredolu who was speaking with the press at an event put together today to commemorate 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence noted that it is that time of the year when deliberate efforts is taken to bring to the consciousness of the people gender based violence metted to women and girls in the state.
Speaking on this year’s theme:’Unite to End Violence Against Women’, Mrs. Akeredolu said under her watch, VAPP Law was passed into law, simplified and translated into Yoruba language for ease of understanding just as she charged the students to acquaint themselves with the law to protect themselves.
She used the occasion to restate the need to vote for more women to represent women’s interest at the decision table saying all hands must be on deck to achieve the desired result.
She also called for supportive actions such as provision of shelter to help victims go through the process of healing, urging women to be the change they desire to see in the larger society.
Giving her remarks, the Ondo State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Dr. Mrs. ‘Bunmi Osadahun while applauding Mrs. Akeredolu for initiating lots of programmes to empower women, said almost all women are affected by these violence which can come in the form of battering, rape, domestic violence among others.
Dr. Osadahun who said sexual violence usually takes toil on women as they are taken out of their normal status to that of subordinate noting further that a society that fails to pay attention to gender issues is endangered.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of OSAA-GBV, Mrs. Joel Afolabi said gender based violence has been on the increase despite all efforts to stem it noting that women most especially must rise up in the fight and not give in easily to such abnormalities because the society under-plays it.
While appreciating the wife of the Governor for doing a yeoman’s job, she said men must be co-opted into the fight to end the menace.
She also took time to explore the VAPP Law in Ondo State.
Earlier in her opening remarks, Special Adviser to Mr Governor on Gender, Mrs. Olamide Falana said going by available data, one in every 3 girls suffer gender based violence in their life time and such crimes are usually perpetrated by close family stressing that the time has come for a united fight in stemming the tide.
Mrs. Falana who used the occasion to applaud Mrs. Akeredolu for being at the forefront for the enactment of the VAPP Law said a lot of ground have already been covered and more will be with a united front.
In attendance also at the event include Olori Agbede, representatives from NCWS, Women Led NGOs, Iyaloja, BEMORE Empowered Foundation, BRECAN, students from Fiwasaye Girl’s Grammar School and St. Louis Grammar School among others.
