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CAIDOV, Experts Seek End To Domestic Violence, Child Abuse…Domestic Violence Impacts Families, Says Gbenga Soloki
A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Centre Against Injustice And Domestic Violence (CAIDOV) in conjunction with some experts have called for an end to domestic violence and child abuse.
The organisation, led by Comrade Gbenga Soloki, emphasised the need for the society to protect abused people with the right attitude and enabling laws at a Round Table Conference on Domestic Violence And Child Abuse, which held at Henry Ajomale Hall, Amuwo Odofin Local Government Council on Wednesday August 31, 2024.
Hon. Valentine Buraimoh, Chairman of Amuwo Odofin Local Government, said in his goodwill message at the event, that women and the girl child should be given the opportunity to lead the community, the state and the nation.
Buraimoh stated that women have contributed their quota to the development of the society and are still doing so.
“Women should be given more opportunities to represent their communities in the state assemblies and National Assembly.
“We have more women than men in Nigeria. God has given them the gifts to care for us and He created women from the ribs of men as our helpers. We should put them where they deserve to be.
“Women are always at the home front, so we should give them their rightful position. It was difficult to send female children to schools in those days, but my grandfather sent my mother to school, and she became a teacher which made it easy for all of us to go to school,” he said.
The Chairman of the event and President of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Comrade Debo Adeniran, said that the girl child is violated from birth by fathers who feel disappointed with female children.
Adeniran stated that a lot of things happen as a female grows up, saying that some paedophiles feast on them and harass them sexually.
“There are inadequate laws to protect the women. Parents collect dowries on them and they are sometimes sold into slavery. The girl child is seriously violated.
“Most times, the girl child is made to do household chores. Females even violate themselves. Women should be bold as they can become anything in this modern age.
“We now have female vice Chancellors and Managing Directors. Your husband doesn’t have to be richer than you or older than you.
“A woman can invite a man that she fancies for marriage. You should assert your rights as a woman. Women can be better, don’t underestimate yourselves and try to asset yourselves,” he said.
Dr (Mrs) Adeyinka Wulemat Olarinmoye of the Department of Tourism and Hospitality, Lagos State University (LASU), who spoke on “Cultural Roots of Domestic Violence and Child Abuse,” said that culture is a way of life, saying that it has great impacts on the way people reason.
Olarinmoye stated that people emphasise more on male than female children based on culture, and that this has its roots in “Ifa” in Yorubaland.
She said that the nation got it wrong due to westernisation and civilisation.
“Through slave trade and westernisation, we place western culture above the Yoruba culture. The society is patriarchal because we have authority placed on men and we put them in positions of authority, while we relegate the women,” she said.
Mrs Aderonke Oyelakin from the Lagos State Co-Ordinator, Child Protection Network, who was also at the event, spoke on the topic “The State As Protective Valve Against Domestic Violence And Child Abuse.”
Oyelakin told the audience that the child rights law in Lagos State came into existence in 2007, adding that the laws specify the relationship of the people with children.
She disclosed that there are four baskets of rights of children, which she said include survival that encompasses the rights to life, good health, balance nutrition and related matters.
“There is basket of development, which include the development of the child spirit, soul and body, and protection, which include parental care, protection of the child from child labour, child trafficking, ritual killing, sexual, physical and emotional abuse and neglect.
“We also have participation and this includes the right of the child to be involved in matters that concern them,” she said.
Barrister Abass Oyeyemi, who represented Barrister Dotun Ajulo, Lagos NBA Chairman, spoke on the topic: “Global Legal Instruments And Conventions Against Domestic Violence And Child Abuse.”
Oyeyemi stated that there are several world conventions that protect human rights, saying that Nigeria is a signatory to the Child Rights Convention of 1989.
He said that different countries came together to agree and set a policy for the rights of the children all over the world.
According to him, the law was enacted in 2003 as Child Rights Act in Nigeria, and that the law encompasses the rights of the children.
He said: “It is against the law for children to hawk on the streets or beg to feed. Lagos State is the first to domesticate the child rights law. We should sensitise the people on the law, and we should cooperate and let the offenders know the law,” he said
Mrs Kemi Oguntoyibo from the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency also educated the participants on the need to ensure the welfare of the children, especially when a couple is divorced.
Earlier in his welcome address, Mr Gbenga Soloki, the Executive Director of CAIDOV, said that domestic violence impacts individuals and families across the nation.
Soloki stressed that it encompasses all forms of mistreatments, or aggression within relationships, adding that these include physical, sexual, emotional, cultural and financial abuses.
“It is our humble expectations that with the arrays of resource persons, participants and, even the narratives of victims of gender based violence this session will excavate, dissect and proffer solutions to, we shall open new vista in combating this social malaise.
“We are aware that the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, various Child Protection Services and, our Law Enforcement Agencies are striving hard to address this social migraine, the truth however, remains that these institutions and a couple of others with statutory mandates are overwhelmed.
“We feel strongly that we must bring this crusade to the doorsteps of grassroots dwellers and governance.
“Kindly deplore this session to examine how we can break the barriers scientifically and explore the social consequences of domestic violence with respect to gender, age, ethnic, religion or social status,” he said.
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