The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Zainab Maina, on Friday urged the Lagos State Government sign into law, the bill on “Violence Against Women’’.
Maina, who made the call in Lagos when he visited some Skills Acquisition Centres, advised the state to emulate other states which have enacted the law.
“The rate of physical, psychological and emotional violence against women in Nigeria is very high, with alarming incidences in cosmopolitan cities like Lagos.
“Today, six out of 10 women have at some point in their lives been battered or mutilated or suffered one form of violence or the other,’’ she said.
According to her, this has often permanently damaged the affected women or led to their untimely deaths.
“The commonest form of violence and abuse in our society include wife battery, rape, sexual harassment, sexual exploitation, prostitution, widowhood practice, among others.
“The widespread existence of violence against women in our society is an indication of how far we are from realising the constitutional principles of justice, equality and peace for all,’’ Maina said.
She noted that the only way to stop violence against women would be the passage and enforcement of laws, adopting action plans and budgets and implement legislation.
She, therefore, expressed the urgent need for all to unite and address the issue.
The minister also called on the State Government to ensure full implementation and enforcement of the Child Rights Law.
“If implemented, the law will ensure the survival, protection, wellbeing and development of our children into well adjusted individuals,’’ Maina said.
She noted that the life sentence penalty in the law for child rapists would go a long way in reducing the high rate of child and teenage rape cases.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the minister was at the Skills Acquisition Centres at Ikorodu and Isheri-Olofin.
She was also at the Home for Disabled Children at Ketu and the Maternal Child Centre at the Ikorodu General Hospital where she donated delivery kits and bedding.
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