Group hails Lagos over
women protection law
By CHIKEZIE ONYELUKAJAH
Thursday, May
1 , 2008
The law enacted by the Lagos State government, which enables
third party to invite the police to go to court to protect
victims of violence against women, has been lauded by a Non-Governmental
Organisation (NGO) Project Alert.
The Executive Director of the organization, Mrs. Josephine
Effa-Chukwuma, who made the commendation in Lagos, recently,
during a two-day Consultative Forum on “male involvement
in eliminating violence against women,” held at Ogba,
Ikeja, Lagos, also warned that hard times await perpetrators
of violence against women.
She explained the Lagos State government had resolved to eradicate
gender violence, an action that led to the enactment of the
law.
The executive director explained that perpetrators would be
prosecuted and if found guilty, would be sentenced to five
years imprisonment or pay a fine of N100, 000 or both.
Satisfied that her 10 years’ campaign against violence
meted out to women is yielding positive results, she explained
that the forum was organized to sensitize men on various issues
bordering on violence against women and to build a male support
group (MSG) that would fight all forms of gender violence.
The executive director said she hoped that more men would
indicate their interest to participate in the fight as they
were the chief culprits.
She said she looked forward to seeing a Nigeria where dignity
of women would be recognized by men, where women are free
from torture and bodily harm and have equal opportunities
with men.
She said: “Many women want men to step up and take a
stand against violence, most men do not agree with men’s
violence, yet they do nothing to challenge or stop it.
These men need to be mobilized to prevent violence, some men
are already working to prevent violence but lack the support.”
Another speaker at the forum, the Lagos State Commissioner
for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs. Joke Adefulere,
also condemned the involvement of some influential Nigerians
in gender violence.
“We may say there is solace in knowing that there is
a new law on domestic violence. However, it is better not
to experience any form of violence at all”, she said.
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