A coalition of civil society groups, non-governmental organisations, human rights activists and other stakeholders have embarked on road show to create awareness and sensitise members of the public on the need to shun sexual and gender based violence against girls and women.
The stakeholders, under the aegis of Movement Against Sexual and Gender Based Violence in Osun State, on Monday, visited market places to sensitise market women and men on this year’s 16 Days of Activism Against Sexual and Gender Based Violence.
The activism is an annual international campaign that challenges violence against women and girls and it is themed: “End Violence Against Women and Girls, Break The Silence.”
Led by the coordinator of the movement, Citizen Lola Wey, the groups visited Igbona market where they called on traders, especially parents to protect their wards against abuses.
Addresing the traders, one of the leaders of the movement, Mrs Funmilayo Abdullahi urged women to brace up and give the best to their children, family and the society at large.
According to her, gone are the days when women were relegated to the background, noting that parents should do their best to train their girl children to be the best in the society.
She called on parents to also form the habit of training their male children to be useful at home especially in carrying out domestic chores like girls, saying “parents have a lot to do in ensuring that boys don’t grow up to become violent towards girls and women.”
The movement also urged traditional institution in the state to join in waging war against gender based violence which it said has been on the rise in Osun.
The groups made the request when they visited the palace of the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun after the roadshow.
Speaking at the palace, Citizen Lola Wey charged Oba Olanipekun to take advantage of his influence and position in tackling the menace.
