The Kogi State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajia Fatima Buba Kabir, says efforts would be made to look into the establishment of Sexual Assult Centres in the State.
The Commissioner made the disclosure when she received in audience
EUNICE AGBOGUN, the KOGI STATE COORDINATOR FOR GENDER AND CONSTITUTION REFORM NETWORK (GECORN) AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CHALLENGED PARENTHOOD INITIATIVE (CPD) MADE THE APPEAL who was in her office for AN ADVOCACY VISIT, said the centre would help in rehabilitation of persons who are sexual abuse.
Hajia Fatima said with the rising cases of violence against women, when operational, the centre would help in rehabilitation of victims.
The Commissioner disclosed that if issues of violence against women is to be addressed, all hands would need to be on deck, threw her support behind GECON and the ideals of the organization.
The Women Affairs Commissioner explained that the concept of having a Sexual Assult Centre aside rehabilitation, would provide shelter for victims.
She equally expressed displeasure that the Violent Against Persons Prohibition Bill, passed by the Kogi State House of Assembly, is yet to get the assent of the Governor, promised to follow up on the bill.
The Commissioner praised Gov. Yahaya Bello for his love for the women folks, said it has translated into empowerment and political employment for women in the State.
In her remarks, the State Coordinator of GECON, Eunice Agbogun, said the rising cases of Violence against women is becomy alarming, urged Government at all levels to declare State of Emergency On Violence Against Women, Girls.
She described GECORN as a Network of Feminist Non Governmental and Community Based Organizations that believes in building women strengths to lead initiatives to demand for constitution reforms.
She equally siad GECORN is working towards the mobilization of women to build their strength in all sectors to lead initiatives to demand for constitution reforms in Nigeria.
As part of her demand to stop violence against women and the girl child during the visit, Eunice Agbogun called for the establishments and operation of ‘shelters’ to support women and girls who are at risk and survivors of violence in each state of the federation by 2023.
Still as part of her appeal during the advocacy, the GECORN Coordinator urged for the Commiting of adequate resources to establish new and support already establishey SARCs (Sexual Assault Response Centers) in Kogi State and across Nigeria.
Similarly, she asked for the launch, through the National Orientation Agency, a nationwide campaign to challenge and change negative attitudes towards women and girls as well as to ensure that laws are compliant with agreed international standards on gend equality, and effectively enforced.
Furthermore, she wants support mechanisms to address sexual and gender-based violence in home Internally Displaced Peoples’ camps, rural communities, urban area educational and health institutions, and workplaces.
Women and girls according to Eunice endure physical, socioeconomic, sexual or psychologic violence that affect them irrespective of their location, class, religion, ethnicity, lamented that despite existing legal frameworks on violence against women in atleast 10 states of the federation, the National Democratic Health Survey (NDHS) 2018 reports still indicates that 28% of females have experienced one form of violence or the other.
Towards women political Participation, Eunice urged Kogi State and the Federal Goverment to Implement the Justice Uwais Electoral Reform Committee Report on women’s political representation and to domesticate all treaties and conventions that promote the rights of women and girls to participate fully and equally in politics, decision-making and peace and security processes
She equally wants the creation and maintaining of an enabling environment for ensuring inclusion, equality and justice for all in every sphere of our national life; Provide legal backing to support the implementation of the 35% Affirmative
electoral law to stipulate mandatory affirmative action such nprise at least 35% of candidates presented to INEC for election.