By Stephen Gbadamosi, Ibadan
Oyo State governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, has inaugurated two bodies, a Steering Committee and a Technical Working Committee, on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in the state.
The committees were raised on Wednesday, February 12, during the commemoration of the International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation held at the Local Government Service Commission Staff Training Centre, Secretariat, Ibadan, capital of the South-West Nigerian state.
Inaugurating the committees, Gov. Makinde, represented by the state’s Head of Service (HoS), Mrs. Olubunmi Oni, stated that the bodies were saddled with the mandate of developing and implementing programmes and policies for the prevention of GBV in the state.
The governor charged them on “the rehabilitation of persons who still fall victim of gender-based violence despite all the preventive measures.”
He described GBV as a critical issue that affected individuals and communities across the globe, adding that the problem transcended borders, cultures and socio-economic statuses, negatively impacting the lives of countless individuals over the years.
Makinde called for an all-inclusive and sustained crusade to stem the tide of domestic violence, sexual abuse, female genital mutilation, public harassment, among other forms of violence against women in the society.
He stressed the need to recognise collective responsibilities in sustainable management of GBV requiring comprehensive approach policies, support for survivors and global initiatives.
The governor said: “This violent behaviour has eaten deep into the fabric of the society,” adding that it cuts across most human societies, irrespective of gender.
In her address, the state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Mrs. Toyin Balogun, stated that it was imperative to put in place State Steering and Technical Working Committees that would work in collaboration with her ministry to put an end to GBV and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), which is a significant aspect of GBV.
Speaking further, Mrs. Balogun pointed out that “the committees must work very hard in order to end gender-based violence in Oyo State, pursuant to the operational policy thrust of the ministry and the strategy of the United Nations Children’s Fund.”
The committees’ terms of reference are to “conduct public awareness campaigns on reporting cases of gender-based violence; providing for the rehabilitation and promotion of the welfare of victims, and developing a gender-based violence prevention sustainable plan for the state”, among other terms.
Members of the 20-man Steering Committee include the Commissioner for Health, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Commissioner for Justice, Commissioner for Education and the Commissioner for Finance.
Others include the state Commissioner of Police; Comptroller of Immigration Services; State Commander, NAPTIP, 55 members of the Technical Working Group Committee, media organisations and other stakeholders.
