Advocate for stringent action by government to curb the increasing rate of rape in the country may have scored a point as the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) has declared a state of emergency on sexual and gender based violence.
The governors, in a communiqué signed and issued on Thursday by the Chairman of the forum, Kayode Fayemi, in Abuja also vowed to ensure that offenders face the maximum weight of the law.
The governors took the stand at the 10th COVID-19 teleconference meeting held on Wednesday.
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.”
