By Editor
In a bid to rid the State of the menace of gender based violence, the Osun State House of Assembly is set to domesticate the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (2015) as well as review the laws against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
This was made known by the Speaker, Timothy Owoeye, during Thursday’s inauguration of a State Gender Based Violence Management Committee.
Owoeye who lauded the wife of the Governor, Alhaja Kafayat Oyetola for not resting on her oars and for championing the initiative, said if properly implemented will bring drastic attitudinal changes and reform our way of life.
In his remarks, he said “It is noteworthy to say the issue of gender based violence transcends just the issue of rape and that is why the 7th assembly under my leadership is committed to begin steps towards domesticating the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (VAPP) 2015.”
“Review the weak laws on Female Genital Mutilation to a minimum of fourteen years imprisonment for offenders. Osun has the highest prevalence in the country and we owe our girls the collective duty of bringing this percentage to the barest minimum.
I also must thank the Future Shakers Initiative for taking the lead in the fight against FGM and for bringing this to the attention of the 7th Assembly. We’re working with them on laws and I implore this committee to further work with them on advocacy.”
“On fistula, I, Timothy Owoeye, recently pledged my support for the end of fistula in our society which is a fundamental human rights issue and a key strategy for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. The leadership of the 7th Assembly will also look at laws to support the discrimination of fistula patients.”
The Speaker called on the committee to devise a robust plan to protect victims of domestic and gender based violence. He concluded by asking for the reintegration of couples with failed marriages into the society, saying we must stop stigmatizing.