Gender-Based Violence Must Be Wiped Out In Our Society -Lagos APC Women Leader, Jumoke Okoya-Thomas

Women Leader of the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Jumoke Okoya-Thomas has made a case for the eradication of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Lagos State in particular and in Nigeria generally.

Speaking on this year’s Lagos Gender-Based Violence (GBV) week and the 16 Days of Activism to end violence against women and girls, Okoya-Thomas said that the matter has assumed an alarming rate and that it should be curtailed to prevent further damage to the victims of the violence.

The Women Leader, who spoke to journalists on Wednesday, appealed to all stakeholders to rally round the government and other concerned agencies as well as Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) to end domestic violence and sexual harassment against women and girls.

While commending the Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu-led government and the state’s First Lady, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu for their efforts in this regard, Okoya-Thomas said that she would continue to play a positive role towearda ending the menace in the state.

“Time is ripe for us to stamp out all forms of GBV, especially against women and children in our society.

“As a woman and a mother, I feel pained each time a woman, girl or child is harassed in any form.

“We must not allow this to go unchecked. The !east we can do is to render our voice to the dastardly acts and ensure that justice is done to the victims and we must ensure that culprits are not allowed to go unpunished.

Okoya-Thomas then called on necessary agencies and government establishments, especially the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Youth and Social Development and those of Education, Justice and Health to continue to advocate against GBV and play positive roles in ensuring a total eradication of the menace in the state.