NAN- HG-10
Change
Lagos, Sept. 16, 2016 (NAN) Mr Olajide Bello, a law lecturer at the University of Lagos on Thursday said change in attitude to sexual and domestic violence should be predicated by men.
He said this at an event organised by the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team to celebrate its two years anniversary.
The theme of the event is “Promoting Positive Masculinity; Men as Flagbearers in the Fight to end Sexual and Gender-Based Violence.”
Bello, who is a human rights lawyer, said that men were the the principal culprits of sexual and gender-based violence, adding that men must participate in any concerted effort at reducing this violence.
He added that “men should change their perception against women and they should also stop thinking that women are second hand citizens.
“Women should also be accorded same respect after all they were also created by God.
“It is high time men accept to be in equal status with women.
“There should be clearly defined equality between males and females in schools, work places and homes, so as to reduce the crime.”
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, gave assurance that the command would deploy male officers to gender desks so as to take part in the campaign against sexual and domestic violence.
Owoseni further said that male officers would be encouraged to take part in capacity building and ending sexual and gender-based violence.
“We want to say that the presence of police officers here today is to show our testimony and demonstrate our commitment toward domestic and sexual violence issues.
“Irrespective of whatever stigma, the police carry the burden and we will make sure that offenders face the wrath of the law.”
He also stressed the need to continously sensitise men at the grassroots, where sexual and gender-based violence was commonplace.
Sexual violence was more traumatic than some criminal cases, therefore, we have to break the silence within our communities, he added.
“More awareness programmes should be taken to Churches, Mosques, traditional rulers and rural areas,” he advised.
The Coordinator of the organisation, Mrs Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, also urged women and girls to speak out against any violence against them.
(NAN)
TAL/OSA/HA
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(Edited by Shittu Obassa/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu)