Govs Declare State Of Emergency On Rape

A state of emergency has been declared on sexual and gender-based violence against women and children, by the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF).

The forum took the decision after its 10th COVID-19 Teleconference meeting held on Wednesday.

A communique signed and issued by Chairman of NGF and Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, said the forum also renewed its commitment to ensuring that offenders face the full weight of the law.

The communique issued on Thursday reads:

Governors agreed to, “Declare a State of Emergency on Sexual and Gender-based Violence. Governors strongly condemned all forms of violence against women and children and committed to ensuring that offenders face the maximum weight of the law;

“Call on State Governors that have not already domesticated relevant gender-based protection laws to domesticate the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, the Child Rights Act and the updated Penal Code to increase protection for women and children and ensure speedy investigation and prosecution of perpetrators in addition to creating a sex offenders register in each State to name and shame.”