…Assures perpetrators of public disgrace
The Ekiti State Government, has established a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC), where victims of rape and other molestations will receive medical and psychological attentions, rather than being abandoned to suffer.
The government also assured that Ekiti would strengthen the adopted policy of naming and shaming of perpetrators of rape, by publishing their photographs on state’s website and pasting in palaces.
Ekiti State First Lady, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, gave the revelation
on Friday, while making a presentation on the floor of the Assembly during an advocacy visit to expand the frontiers of Gender Based Violence(GBV) prevention in the state.
She stated that the referral centre, located within the premises of the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, would provide well guided and discreet medical supports for survivors.
You May Also Read
- Pastor Okafor exonerates self from fake miracle allegation
- End the rising insecurity in the State – Delta monarchs tell police
- Man, 58, sodomised 2 minors as father defiles 2-year-daughter
- COVID-19 will expose pastors who use church for business—— Catholic Bishop
“The SARC will be operational soon. It will attend to GBV survivors in a prompt, discreet and professional manner. Discussions have been held with Council Chairmen to replicate SARC in all their local governments”, she said.
Mrs Fayemi applauded the Assembly for the passage of the Gender Based Violence Bill, 2019 and the compulsory treatment and care for Sexually Assaulted Minors Bill, 2020, saying these will help in fast- tracking actions against GBV.
“We are ready to strengthen this aspect of naming and shaming of perpetrators of rape on social media and in our palaces, because it was embedded in our cultural practices not to cover up perpetrators of evil”, the First Lady added.
She urged the lawmakers to declare emergency against GBV through robust and strong legal framework, while charging the governors to also set up machinery for the promulgation of the laws that will prevent rape and take care of post -event trauma in their states.
The First Lady added that a GBV committee, comprising police, traditional rulers, religious bodies and non-governmental organisations, had been set up to take the fight to the community level, where there were high prevalent rate of rape and domestic violence.
“I implore the Assembly to intensify GBV war across all the constituencies to make Ekiti safe for all and sundry and reduce the incidences to the bearest minimum”, she said.
The Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon Funminiyi Afuye, who applauded the first lady for her strides in women empowerment and emancipation, said Mrs Fayemi has etched her name in gold as a campaigner for respect for human dignity and protection of Gender.
“Most of the laws being proposed in other states have been introduced long ago in Ekiti through the instrumentality of the first lady .
“Today, Ekiti has become a reference point in terms of protection of the rights of the citizens and maintenance of equality among genders. We are ready to partner the government to ensure that those who violate the people’s rights are punished.”
Chairman , House Committee on Women Affairs, Hon Kemi Balogun, advised churches, mosques and cultural groups to join the fray against rape that was fast becoming a pandemic killing the Nigerian society.
“I agree with the fact that there must be a capital punishment for perpetrators of rape and other molestations against any gender. The police, judiciary, and parents must play their parts in this regard.”
