Imoke seeks enforcement of laws on gender-violence

THE Governor of Cross River State, Senator Liyel Imoke, has suggested that appropriate enforcement of the laws as well as punishment to offenders of gender-based violence is the surest way to end the ever-increasing menace in the country.

   Imoke in his remarks at the occasion for the launch of ‘’dissemination of the guidelines on gender-based violence among young persons in Nigeria’’ held in Abuja by “Women Arise for Change Initiative”, described the event as key to the emerging new society, calling on the police and other security agencies to assist in enforcing and sanctioning the perpetrators.

  He said: ‘’A society cannot grow without sanctions, people should not get away with violence.’’

  The governor equally appealed to all tiers of government to play their roles very well and work closely with the civil society groups in view of reducing the menace to the barest minimum.

  Earlier, in a welcome speech, the Founder of Women Arise for Change Initiative and host of the event, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, said that the production of the guidelines evolved through a tasking process, stressing: ‘’We are glad with the result, more importantly the opportunity to contribute to the reduction of gender-based violence among the youths in Nigeria is a demonstration of our commitment to this process.’’

   The keynote Speaker at the event and Chairman, National Human Rights Commission, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, called on government, the academia and the civil society groups to work together to end violence in the land, saying: ‘’If we are going to succeed, we’ve to address the need to provide forensic equipment laboratories to our tertiary institutions for research and also provide for the police for proper investigations.”