Ekiti State government and donor agencies have been urged to make available improved budgetary allocation to continue to fight against Gender-Based Violence and Female Genital Mutilation in the country.
This formed part of the recommendations of stakeholders in a communique issued at the end of Engagement on strengthening of Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs and Law Enforcement Agencies on the Implementation and Operationalization of Laws and Legal Frameworks Against FGM, GBV to improve access to justice for survivors and victims in Ekiti State.
The programme held in Ado-Ekiti was organised by the New Generation Girls and Women Development Initiative, NIGAWD.
The stakeholders also agreed that the Ministry of Budget and Finance should encourage the release of funds for the full implementation of the GBV prohibition laws and other interventions.
It was further stressed that all FGM/GBV service providers should be registered with the Ekiti State ministry of women affairs and social development to facilitate their activities.
Other recommendations include that persons who aid and abet the practice of FGM and those who interfere with the prosecution of reported cases should also be prosecuted and made to face the law to serve as a deterrent to the general public.
“Necessary support should be accorded to women and girls at risk of FGM and GBV through the protection and occupation order of the state GBV Prohibition law 2019”.
“Blaming and publicly naming of victims and survivors of FGM and GBV we should be frowned at”.
It was also the unanimous decision of the stakeholders that deterrent information should be amplified against FGM/GBV as the grand law is meant to prevent the occurrence of cases.
“Medical practitioners should serve as community police to check babies for FGM during immunization and mandatorily report the case”.
“NGOs through their interventions should train and deploy community vanguards recognised by the government at local levels to serve as monitoring and surveillance mechanisms who will ensure reportage of cases”.
Earlier in her welcome address, the Executive Director, New Generation Girls and Women Development Initiative, NINGAWD, Ambimbola Aladejare-Salako said the purpose of the stakeholders’ engagement was to fashion out ways of strengthening the fight against Gender-Based Violence and Female Genital Mutilation in Ekiti State.
Ambimbola Aladejare-Salako, represented by Kackah Alex also pointed out that the programme is to review the activities of the NGO in Ekiti State since the inception of this year.
In a paper presentation, the Coordinator, Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Ado-Ekiti, Rita Ilevbare spoke on the need for the stakeholders to strengthen the implementation and operation of Ekiti GBV provision laws as a way of preventing the occurrence of GBV and FGM.
Barrister Ilevbare pointed out that the existing laws on GBV in Ekiti State were to provide a legal framework for the practice of FGM and GBV.
She stressed the need for the stakeholders to come together to ensure the full implementation of the various laws guiding against the practice of FGM and GBV in the state.
The communique was signed by Representatives of various Ministries, Departments and Agencies, Partners of as well as Security agents.
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