Stakeholders declare war on sexual assault, female genital mutilation promoters

Stakeholders in Osun State have come against promoters of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), Gender Based Violence (GBV), sexual assaults and all forms of harmful practices in the state.

The stakeholders, who include the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the police, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs), expressed worry at the rising cases of sexual assault, GBV and FGM in the country and called on survivors to report abusers for legal sanctions.

Leading the call at an Intergenerational Dialogue organised by Value Female Network (VFN), an NGO, in commemoration of 2022 International Youth Day, in Osogbo, Executive Director of VFN, Dr. Costly Aderibigbe-Saba, urged youths not to allow injustices and discriminations around to corrupt them.

Aderibigbe-Saba, who is also the Executive Secretary of the Global Youth Consortium on FGM, urged the Federal Government to encourage intergenerational dialogues and discussions to further intensify the fight against FGM.

The Public Relations Officer of Osun State Police Command, Yemisi Opalola, warned residents of the state against acts capable of exposing youths to dangers and said that perpetrators of FGM and other illegal practices would be arrested and prosecuted according to the law.

Also, the Public Relations Officer of Nigeria Secuirty and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Osun State Command, Mrs. Atanda Olabisi, urged survivors to report cases of sexual assaults, violence and other harmful and illegal practices like FGM for action.

An officer of NHRC in the state, Mrs. Jane Agbakwuru-Nzenwa, warned parents and guardians against domestic violence and all forms of human rights abuses, adding that the commission will not spare culprits.

Members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), undergraduates of tertiary institutions, secondary school students, sexual and reproductive health experts, market women, medical practitioners, religious leaders, also, pledged their commitments to tackling the menace.