The Ogun State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Funmi Efuwape has said that the state government is poised to visit the full weight of the law on any rapist found culpable of the dastard act.
Mrs. Efuwape spoke during an interactive session with women in an online campaign tagged War Against Rape, being championed by a Women and Children Protection Advocate, Rev Fola Achudume this Saturday
She informed that any rapist caught in the state will not be spared.
According to the Commissioner , government is out to protect victims, stressing that rapists should be reported to appropriate agencies.
Mrs Efuwape also charged the mass media to always protect the identity of victims just as she saw the needs for parents to be proactive in the upbringing of their children.
Earlier in an address, the convener of the online campaign against rape tagged ” War Against Rape ” Reverend Fola Achudume observed that sexual violence in any form is not only degrading, dehumanising and traumatic, it also an highest injustice against humanity.
According to her ,this calls for collaborative efforts to be intensified by all stakeholders to put an end to the menace which is continuing to raise its ugly head in the society.
Posting that Laws on rape should be enforced, she charged the society not to add to the burdens of t the victims by criticising them, adding that there is no justification for sexual molestation and harassment.
And, now that awareness is being created about the rape pandemic, professional counsellors, educators, religious leaders and parents should make conscious efforts in putting an end to its re occurrence.
This according to the Ogun State President of the All Nigerians Confederation of Principal of Secondary Schools, Dr Mrs A.O Womiloju calls for all hands to be on deck to rescue the girl- child and women from every form of molestation.
The School Administrator urged the society not to take rape issues for granted, adding that societal norms and values should be promoted with a view to equipping the young ones properly and not put any gender at a disadvantage.
Informing that the society’s disposition to rape victims is disheartening, Dr Womiloju harped on healthy relationships ,effective mentoring and guaranteed safety for every child irrespective of gender.
Speaking in like manner, a legal practitioner, Dr Abiola Akiode -Afolabi wants laws on rape to be enforced explaining that corporate bodies, religious leaders, the mass media should intensify Advocacy against rape.
She also wants parents to break the silence on sex education by changing the communication patterns, pointing out that children from kindergarten should be educated on sexuality.
