ABEOKUTA–The Iyalode of yorubaland, Iyalode Alaba Lawson has canvassed for death penalty for rape convicts, just as she clamored for the arrest of suspected ‘Association of Yahoo Mothers’ allegedly backing Internet fraudsters.
Alaba Lawson made this call while delivery a keynote address at the inception capacity building meeting with council of Iyalode and Iyaloja in Ogun State, with the theme, ‘Towards ending violence against women and girls’ held Tuesday, at the Legacy Resorts in Abeokuta.
The former President of NACCIMMA, noted that parents should take the welfare of their wards serious and not indulge their excesses, in order to curb all social vices in the society.
“Today, we are saying no to violence against women.
“Another worrying situation is that a child of 20 years will be riding an exotic car worth millions of naira. And once they are arrested, their parents are ready because they have formed an association of yahoo parents. Who are they? I think the government needs to get them arrested”, she added
Earlier in her opening remarks, the Director, Women Advocate Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC), Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi noted that violence against women is a violation of human rights and a major impediment to achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women in the country.
She added that WARDC with support from the FORD Foundation is implementing Solidarity, Accountability and Commitment to ending violence against women and girls in the 6 South West stated, adding that it aimed to build community level accountability mechanism at addressing gender-based violence.
“The project therefore through innovative ways supports action that can contribute raising women and girls voices and addressing the limitations imposed on them by violence in their target communities by promoting the meaningful involvement of traditional leaders including conceptualizing and implementing projects in their communities to address violence against women”, she said
Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Ogunremi Melutia raises the alarm of the increasing rates of gender based violence in the state, but however said the state government has been sentisizing the citizens to stop the culture of silence and resilience but to speak out.
“On a daily basis, the ministry receive not less than 20 reports of sexual violence mostly intimate partner violence, neglect and forced economy dependency . However, I wish to reiterate the fact that the Ogun State government has zero tolerance to sexual and gender based violence and that be proven by with the inauguration of Violence Against Person Management Committee in the year 2020.
