March 29, 2024

 

In a bid to get more support towards the fight against the menace of rape in Nigeria, the Compassion Forum for Rape Survivors and Victims in Nigeria and Africa on Friday paid a courtesy visit to the Osun State office the National Human Rights Commission.

The delegation, which was led by the Convener of the group and Executive Director of Eco Center for Transformation and Empowerment Initiative, Citizen Lola Wey was received by the State Coordinator of the Commission, Mr Abayomi Ogundele and top officials of the agency.

The mission according to Citizen Wey was to secure partnership with the commission in order to ensure that victims, who have suffered rights violation do not suffer in vain.

The group hammered on the need to ensure that legal services is provided for victims of rape and thorough diligence is done during prosecution of offenders.

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Narrating worrisome cases in Osun State, group expressed sadness over the manner at which one involving a victim in Ido Osun was prosecuted, adding that Child Rights Act which has been domesticated in the state but has not been implemented.

The group also frown at the seven year sentence handed on a man who violently raped and almost murdered a seventeen year old schoolgirl, calling on NHRC to wade into it.

In his response, Ogundele appreciated the group for deeming it fit to pay the commission a visit. He also saluted them for what they are doing in the grassroots.

He said the commission cannot be everywhere but needs the support of non-governmental organizations at the grassroots to help track human rights abuses in the areas.

The coordinator declared total support for what group, stating that it doors are widely open and will be ready to partner with interested stakeholders. He also promised that the commission will wade into the cases mentioned and ensure that Justice is served.

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He said he would meet with police authority to get briefing on the case and apply to the court to get the judgement in order to appeal it.

The occasion was used by the Osun state coordinator of Inter African Committee (IAC) Nigeria, Mrs Aduke Obelawo, to ask about the activities of the National Human Rights Commission on FGM, whether they have reported cases and have handled cases of FGM in recent times.

Obelawo, who is also the Focal Point Person of UNFPA on the abandonment of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), admonished everyone present including the pressmen, staff of the commission and the visiting team to join hands with the state actors to put an end to FGM.

Responding, the state coordinator of NHRC Ogundele, stated that he has always mainstream the message of FGM Abandonment each time he has the opportunity to sensitize people on humans right whether on radio, television or social gatherings because FGM is violence against women and girls and an infringement on their humans rights.

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