Ekiti Assembly passes law to protect women’s rights

MEMBERS of the Ekiti State House of Assembly have passed into law, the Gender-based Violation Bill, which protects women and children from gender-based violence.

The bill was passed into law last Thursday, after a public hearing, which was well attended by the major stakeholders, including women and representatives of non-governmental organisations and professional groups.

The bill was sponsored by the wife of Ekiti State Governor, Bisi Fayemi, in collaboration with the Ministry of Women Affairs, Social Development and Gender Empowerment; Office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Planning and Millennium Development Goals (MDGs); and the Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA-Ekiti) to curb the abuse of women’s rights.

The Assembly’s Speaker, Dr. Adewale Omirin, said the passage of the bill would help to reduce crime and guarantee the rights of the citizens from abuses.

The bill shields women from physical, sexual, economic and emotional, verbal or psychological abuses.

Meanwhile, the 230 intending Christian pilgrims from the state to Israel have been urged to be good ambassadors of Nigeria.

The Deputy Governor, Mrs. Funmi Olayinka, who represented Governor Kayode Fayemi at the departure service organised for the pilgrims by the Christian Pilgrims Board also urged them to pray for peace and progress of the state and Nigeria.

She explained that the pilgrimage to Israel is an opportunity to confirm that there is nothing that God cannot do that, “in spite of the topography and climatic disadvantages of Israel, it is as an agrarian nation that feeds its citizens and exports food products to other countries.”

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The Guardian