Basking in the euphoria of recent reduction in the cases of violence against women and the girl child in Bayelsa State, Gender advocacy groups are pushing for the quick prosecution of pending cases against perpetrators of such violence.
Scores of gender advocacy groups in the state, including the Collins Cocodia Foundation, Do Foundation International, End Violence Against Women (EVAW), Starrz Safety Initiatives, Timinipre Care Initiative, Association Against Sexual and Gender Based Violence, the Ministry of Health, FIDA, Grep, World Health Organization, MWAN, CCCRN, the Bayelsa State Gender Response Initiative Team (GRIT) and Nigeria Bar Association Women Forum, Bayelsa State chapter, agreed that there is more to be done in the areas of prosecution of culprits and the quick treatment of victims of domestic violence.
According to the chairman of the GRIT, Barr. Dise Goddy-Harry, despite the appreciable awareness and record of arrest in the last one year, there is the need for speedy prosecution of perpetrators of violence against women.
The Gender advocacy groups last Tuesday, embarked on road walk to the headquarters of the Nigerian Police Force and the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), to call on police authorities for quick prosecution and management of the FMC to facilitate speedy attention to victims of domestic violence.
Both Barr. Goddy Harry and High Chief Collins Cocodia, told the state commissioner of Police, Mr. Ben Okolo, that though the visit was part of activities to mark the International Women’s Day Celebration, she appealed for intervention and speedy action on some pending cases of defilement and abuse against women, noting that the continuous delay of prosecution by offenders is dampening the confidence of victims.
The state commissioner of Police, however assured the gender advocates that one of the priorities of its officers and men is to be gender sensitive. He also emphasised that anything that would constitute violence against women is not tolerated by the force. He urged them to advise victims to pursue their cases to a logical conclusion, noting that it would serve as a deterrent to prospective offenders.
A consultant/public care physician and acting head of Clinical Services, FMC, Dr. Obioma Obikeze, expressed gratitude to the advocacy groups, saying the visit has changed his perception of the advocacy for the rights of women in Bayelsa State.
He said that as a medical practitioner in the state for more than 20 years, he has received various cases of violation of minors. Each time these cases are reported to the police, family members of the violators always go behind to pay bribes. As such, these cases end up being swept under the carpet.
