The Oyo State House of Assembly has recommended life sentence for anyone found guilty of rape in the state.
The Violence against Women Bill, 2015, which was passed by the legislature, on Thursday, has been sent to Governor Abiola Ajimobi for assent.
Apart from the recommendation against rape, the bill also seeks to prohibit female circumcision or genital mutilation and forceful ejection from home, among other practices in the state.
Chairman of the House Committee on Women Affairs and Community Development, Olawunmi Oladeji, explained that it was vital for the legislature to address the cases of rape and gender-based violence in the state, adding that the passage of the bill would take the state closer to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 5.
Oladeji said, “I am glad with the content of the bill because when you consider the violent acts committed against women, they are really worrisome. Such violence is too frequently excused and tolerated in communities. Even more worrisome is the fact that perpetrators go unpunished.”
The lawmaker, however, cautioned women to be honest in their allegations so that the bill when passed into law would not be wrongly applied.
“We appeal to our women not to use the excuse of the law to misbehave and disrespect their spouses and partners,” she said.
Speaker of the House, Michael Adeyemo, expressed happiness over the passage of the bill, saying it showed that the house was unanimous against gender violence.
“Everybody should enjoy protection under the law. When we consider the situation, we know that protection of women should be guaranteed as part of their fundamental human rights,” Adeyemo said.
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