In bid to end rape and other sexual offenses, the Oyo State House of Assembly has met concern ministries in the State to discuss in details bills proposed to nip rape and other sexual offenses in the bud.
The meeting which was held today at the Ministry of Justice, involved principal officers of the assembly led by Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, Oyo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Professor Oyelowo Oyewo, Ministry of Women Affairs and the House Committee on Women Affairs and Community Development headed by Hon Olawumi Oladeji.
The discussion was on Child’s Sexual Offenses Bill 2020;Sexual and Gender Based Violence Response Team and Referral Center Bill, 2020; the Public Defender Bill, 2020 which passed through second reading during Friday’s plenary.
This collaboration is necessary to ensure the proposed laws will be effective and adequately implemented.
The establishment of the Office of the Public Defender is to provide appropriate legal aids services and advice to residents of Oyo State among other functions.
We will all speak against rape and make punishment stricter for every other form of violence against women and girl child. We all have roles to play- Parents, Neighbours, Law enforcement agencies, Nigerian Bar Association, Human Right NGO, Judiciary System, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Women Matters…it is our collective responsibility.