Stakeholders have emphasised the roles of Nigeria Police Force and Community Development Associations (CDAs) in the fight against Gender Based Violence (GBV) as pivotal in bringing perpetrators to face the wrath of the law. 

They said that shielding evil elements in the name of relationship, reputation and avoidance of discord will in no way promote any reduction in the violence being perpetrated in the society.

The 16 days campaign began on November 25 until December 10,with the theme, "Unite to end violence against women and girls," harped on sensitization of members of the public on the need to frown at anything relating to GBV. 

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the 16 days activism against GBV, organized by APIN Public Health Initiatives in Abeokuta, stakeholders drawn from the Ministries of Women Affairs and Social Development, Health, Education, Ogun State Agency for the Control of AIDS (OGUN SACA), Civil Society,Government  and Private Health Facilities etc, affirmed that all hands must be on deck to end the menace of violence based on gender by 2030.

In his remarks, Pharm Michael Ohue, Head of Ogun Office, APIN, enjoined all stakeholders to unite to end violencr against women and girls, noting that unity of purpose would bring a drastic success to the campaign. 

On her part, Dr. Oluwatobi Olaniyi, State Team Approach Lead, expressed optimism that the war against GBV could be won, just as she called on law enforcement agencies to put effective system in place that could send perpetrators of rape and other social vices to jail irrespective of the connection such persons may have.

Also speaking,  Mrs. Favour Ojo-Omoniyi, Focal Person, GBV, Ogun APIN, said the team went to about eight primary and secondary schools in Abeokuta to create awareness for upcoming generation about the menace to ensure they don't become perpetrators or survivors. 

Adding that communities should join in the fight against GBV, Ojo-Omoniyi, pointed out the the campaign should be a 365 days long activities which called for everyone to speak up against violence in order to make the society a better place. 

Addressing the participants, Mrs. Jumoke Adewusi, the Acting Director, Ogun State Ministry of Women Affairs, said the ministry had been doing its best to work towards the vision of ending GBV by 2030, noting that an additional Sexual Assault Referral Center(SARC) which would be commissioned in Ijebu-Ode was a right step in the fight to provide support for survivors and bring perpetrators to book.

Mr. Aliu Adewale, Focal Person, State Hospital, Ota, lamented the number of new cases of GBV springing up daily and called for the cooperation of the police and community leaders in exposing perpetrators as well as making justice to prevail.