By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
The Executive Director of Challenged Parenthood Initiative (CPI), Eunice Abimbola Agbogun on Thursday in Anyigba frowned at the increasing rate of gender based violence in Kogi state.
The Director who expressed this at the one day stakeholder sensitization workshop held in Anyigba, Kogi East senatorial district on Thursday, hinted that the organization had in the last six months received several reports of domestic violence and other crimes ranging from rape, sexual molestation, coercion, female circumcision and forceful ejection from home.
She explained that other gender based violence reported during the COVID-19 lockdown include verbal and psychological abuse, harmful widowhood practices, abandonment of spouse, children and other dependents without sustenance.
“Our girls and women are no longer safe. Women are being molested on daily basis. They can’t come out over fear of intimidation and stigmatization. Men and children are not left out in violence. When there is a stringent law on ground, it will discourage any individual from perpetuating in these crimes.” She added.
“That is why we are pushing for the passage of the violence against persons prohibition (VAPP) bill. If the bill is passed by the Kogi State House of Assembly, we are optimistic that anyone found wanting in this act of rape would be sanctioned to serve as deterrent to others.”
Agbogun pointed out that the objective of the day’s stakeholder sensitization workshop is to sensitize relevant stakeholders on the advocacy campaign for the adoption of VAPP bill in the state and to solicit commitment in their participation during the public hearing.
“CPI is pressing hard towards the domestication of violence against persons prohibition (VAPP) Act in Kogi State. The Act was signed into law five years ago by former President Goodluck Jonathan.”
CPI which had been in existence for over 10 years, according to Agbogun, decided to champion the VAPP bill after the 2019 Kogi state governorship election as the organization earlier championed the campaign on Violence Against Women In Politics (VAWIP).
In his presentation, the project officer of CPI, Christopher Simon, said “the purpose of the bill is to eliminate violence in our private and public life, prohibit all forms of violence against persons, men and women, boys and girls and to provide maximum protection and effective remedies for victims of violence and punishment for offenders”.
