Rights activists and gender advocates have called on government at all levels to raise the bar in law enforcement and mass education of the public on ways to end violence against persons in the country.
This was the consensus of stakeholders at a talk show tagged “building resilience against human trafficking, sexual and gender based violence (SGBV) and child’s right violation” organized by better living foundation and capacity development in collaborations with Talk Am Radio.
The executive director better living foundation and capacity development, Mrs Margaret Adedeji said recent development have shown Nigerians need to be reoriented on the dangers inherent in violating persons.
She said:
“when you go to the market here in Akure, the Ondo state capital, you see really small kids hawking in the market with goods not up to five hundred naira and you wonder where the country is going to”.
“We really need to as a country reorient the people for them to know that certain practices and beliefs are violations against persons ” she added.
The executive director, Girls to Women Research Center, Mrs Olamide Falana on her part said concerned authorities and agencies must work a hand in glove with the people to put a stop to violence against persons.
“Religious leaders and traditional leaders must work together to put a stop to gender based violence, child rights violations and human trafficking. Only then are we going to record success in this fight”.
A mental health advocate, Azeez Bolarinwa who contributed on the rise in cases of violence against persons, advocated for more income generating activities targeted to female heads of households.
Meanwhile, the state head of unit, anti-trafficking and gender unit, NSCDC, Supritendent Caroline Ayodele said the agency is working with the state ministry of women affairs to combating violence against persons.
Others are of the view that perpetrators of these acts must be arrested and prosecuted diligently to serve as deterrent to others.
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