By: Emmanuel Onwusoro
Ado- Ekiti.
Proper parental upbringing and stiffer penalties against perpetrators have been suggested as some of the ways of checkmating the rising cases of gender-based violence.
Stakeholders advanced this view in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, at a programme aimed at strengthening human rights awareness, increasing quality alternative, dispute resolution and reducing violence against women and children.
The event, organized by the Catholic Justice Development And Peace Initiative, JDPI, Ekit Catholic Diocese, decried the persistent increase in sexual assault and child abuse with emphasis on the girl-child.
Students from different secondary, primary and nursery schools in Ekiti State who debated on the subjects fingered parents and the perpetrators as responsible for the societal malady. While parents were accused of not paying proper attention to the upbringing of their girl-child, the perpetrators were blamed for indulging in such condemnable act with impunity as expected punishments are not meted out to them.
The occasion also featured poem recitation by the students and pupils which was scored alongside the debate by a panel of Judges.
The Catholic Bishop of Ekiti Diocese,Most Reverend Felix Femi Ajakaye, represented by Rev. Father Bimbo Joseph pledged the commitment of the Catholic Church to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. He pointed out that geneder-based violence is thriving in the society because victims prefer to keep quiet when abused because of the stigma associated with the criminal act.
Father Joseph explained that the Catholic Church has a mechanism to ensure that perpetrators of GBV and their accomplices are exposed. Hence,”in Catholic church when you go contrary to the laws of the land, we will not cover you, thereafter you come and face the sanction of the church. The Catholic church is toeing a different part from that of the society'”. The cleric gave stakeholders an assurance that the Catholic church will continue to put things right in the interest of the society and mankind.
A Chief Superintendent of Police,CSP, Mr Femi Falade who represented the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, any sex intercourse with a girl below seventeen years without her consent is against the laws of the land and the force does not take kindly to it, while perpetrators will be made to face the music.
Mr Falade who is also the officer in charge of legal services at the command remarked that the command normally cautions its officers and men against human rights abuse especially women and children. He reiterated that the command also prosecutes members of the public found culpable of sexual assault and child abuse.
The Chairman,Nigeria Union of Journalists,NUJ, Ekiti State Council, Mr Rotimi Ojomoyela, represented by the Secretary,Mr Kayode Babatuyi informed the organizers that the union through the various media in the State had for a long time been projecting the causes of JDPI considering their importance to the wellbeing of the society.
He said the union would continue to be involved in the efforts of the JDPI toward the fight against gender-based violence with a view to tackling the menace.
Other stakeholders in their submissions believed that drastic measures should be employ in addressing this societal ill to discourage perpetrators.
Cash prizes were given to schools that excelled in the debates and recitations.