Oyo State: Stakeholders decry settling Gender-Based Violence cases in secret

Stakeholders working to address the menace of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Oyo State have called on victims not to settle cases secretly or allow perpetrators to go without facing the law, to prevent them from repeating the same crime

The stakeholders spoke after a review meeting of activities on how to reduce the menace in the state, while also playing up efforts at helping and resuscitating the victims through empowerment.

Setting the tone, the wife of the Oyo State Governor, Mrs Tamunominini Makinde, discouraged victims from settling all forms of GBV cases behind the scene but to always come out to report such violence, saying failure to do such would re-enable the perpetrators to do it again and maybe to other innocent victims.

“We also embrace one or two victims that had been sexually assaulted to let them know that they are not alone in the fight and we evaluate and see how we can serve the state better. We have looked at how the help desk at the Police Command would be better strengthened and how the Ministry of Women Affairs can be better embraced to work with victims. 

“We also looked at how to restructure some of the things they do in the various special homes where victims are kept to ensure that victims are not somewhat put under undue pressure, mistreated and maltreated, while also looking at how the law of the family court can address issues that have grey areas for commissioner of health,” she explained.

Makinde noted that the issues of how health could play important key roles in helping the children recover fast and sending the message to the community using traditional rulers and other forms to stop female genital mutilation have also been put into consideration, appealing to members of the community to support the course of ridding the state of GBV by reporting cases to the appropriate authorities.

“There are lots of toddlers and children below teenage who are victims. A lot of things are happening, we have institutions that are doing virginity testing, they must be careful. We can not do it alone and nobody should be stigmatised because they speak up, let us work together to end this,” Mrs Makinde added.

In his remarks, CP Williams Adebowale said the meeting affords the Command a renewed opportunity to collaborate with the wife of the governor to jointly tackle the menace of GBV and other acts of violence against women and children in the state, affirming that the Command would continue to do its best.

“The issue really is the family of victims because without the suspects paying for what he or she has done through the legal process, it’s possible that you are giving opportunity to other people to also go to commit the same crime. So, we want to plead with the parents and victims to always allow justice to take its course, this way we will be able to stem down and reduce this crime in our society.”

He disclosed that one of the recommendations to the government at the meeting was that it should strengthen the family court with a good court process in place, saying that way, some of the criminals would be shamed and crime would be reduced in the society.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Mrs Grace Oderinde, said violence against women occurs in every society, country and continent, making it one of the most pervasive human rights violations around the world.

She expressed optimism that with the support of all, including parents, religious bodies, teachers, government and society at large to wage war against and report all violent acts against other people, victims would be encouraged to speak out whenever they experience any form of violence.

The meeting, held at the office of the Wife of the Oyo State Governor, Mrs Tamunominini Makinde, was attended by stakeholders, including the Commissioner of Police, CP Adebowale Williams; the Oyo State Head of Service, Mrs Ololade Agboola; Commissioners Oyelowo Oyewo (Justice/Attorney General); Dr Bode Ladipo (Health); Alhaja Faosat Joke-Sanni (Special Duties) and Kafila Olayiwola (Women Affairs and Social Inclusion) who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs Grace Oderinde.

PIAK