Mrs Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, Wife of Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, says implementation of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law will eradicate gender-based violence in the state.
Anyanwu-Akeredolu made this known on Thursday at a Town Hall meeting on the Ondo State Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law organised by the Westminster Foundation for Democracy in Ilaje Local Government Area of the state.
Represented by Mrs Oluwaseun Ayedatiwa, Wife of the state Deputy Governor, she said that implementation of the law would ensure the punishment of any violator under the law.
Anyanwu-Akeredolu said: “The law will punish any violator, regardless of his position and will gradually stem the tide of such cases so that the victims would not be afraid to speak out.
“Don’t say it’s not your child. Don’t be afraid because there is always confidentiality; anyone who reports is shielded, even the victim.
“Measures are in place for all these, so let us put our mind at rest,” she said.
Earlier, Mrs Shola Afolayan, representative of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), urged victims of rape to speak out so that the rapist would be dealt with under the law.
Afolayan said there was no ignorance in law, adding that any violator of the VAPP Law would not go scot-free.
Also, Mrs Tope Daniyan, the Senior Special Assistant on Gender, Research and Documentation, educated the crowd on the passage of the VAPP Law and its implications.
Daniyan said that the law covered any kind of molestation.
The SSA expressed joy on the passage of the VAPP law in the state, urging victims of rape to report such cases within 24 hours.
“After one or two days, there is no more evidence in a rape case. So, call the toll free number on the pamphlet being distributed,” she said.
Similarly, Mr Oyewole Lebile, a Nurse at the Primary Healthcare Centre in Ilaje Local Government Area, spoke in the native language of the area, urged anyone privy to rape or other cases of abuse to call the number on the pamphlet.
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Speaking with newsmen on the sidelines of the event, Mrs Julie Eto, a participant, lauded the organisers of the event.
Eto described the programme as a welcome development, expressing optimism that implementation of the VAPP Law would reduce high cases of rape in the area.
Also, briefing newsmen, Dr Olujide Famose, the Coordinator, Primary Healthcare Centre in Ilaje LGA, said that rape cases were rampant in Ilaje area due to the communal way of living together.
“Before, the community didn’t allow prosecution or anybody being brought to book for rape offences.
“But now, with the law, this is a kind of succour to the vulnerable, especially the young girl-child,” Famous said. (NAN)
