Group stages walk against femicide, submits draft bill to Lagos state house of assembly

A Non-Governmental Organisation known as DOHS Cares Foundation on Thursday, led scores of women of different ages and from different fields in a walk against femicide, regarded as the most brutal and extreme manifestation of violence against women and girls.

Penpushing reports that the civil society organization took the walk from Ikeja to the Lagos State House of Assembly, as well as other major streets of the town, and at the assembly presented a draft bill for consideration to criminalise femicide in the state

The founder of the group, Ololade Ajayi raised awareness about the negative consequences of femicide in society, and described femicide as the intentional killing of women and girls by men, which is characterised by a history of domestic violence and social abuse.

Penpushing further reports that Ajayi pointed out that as at today there is nowhere in Lagos State laws on domestic violence that covers femicide, lamenting that femicide is the highest form of gender-based violence, the most violent form because it results in the murder of women and girls.

‘It is the intentional killing of women and girls by men, which is characterised by a history of domestic violence and social abuse. Currently, there is nowhere in Lagos State laws on domestic violence that covers femicide. Femicide is the highest form of gender-based violence, the most violent form because it results in the murder of women and girls’, Ajayi said

Penpushing also reports that the group leader explained that the draft bill with different sections takes cognisance of vulnerable persons, especially dependants left behind by the victim, sanctions for perpetrators, and sections that take care of missing women and girls who might have been victims of femicide.

The foundation boss said femicide is a distinct form of Gender Based Violence (GBV), motivated by hatred, contempt, pleasure or a sense of ownership of women and a misogynistic killing of women by men.

Penpushing reports that she noted that femicide may occur as a result of stereotypes of gender roles and unequal power relations, with harmful impacts including psychological and emotional damage to families and society as a whole.

The group leader while citing cases of femicide, lamented that the victims had not gotten justice to date, forcing her to shoulder the burden of supporting their dependents whose lives were forever marred by the incident.

“Many femicide cases are usually ruled as yahoo or ritualistic killings and in the court of public opinion, with blame thrown at the feet of the victims for being greedy or not discerning enough. This makes it easy for perpetrators to escape appropriately,” she noted.

Penpushing further reports that Ajayi disclosed that some documented victims of femicide in Nigeria include Obiageli Anajekwu, Augusta Osedion, Damian Okoligwe, Ogochukwu Anene, Ndubuisi, Nana Fadimatu, Esther Aja, Ovye Yakubu, Evelyn Alifiya, Itunu Chigozie, Mercy Samuel, Osinachi Nwachukwu, Bimbo Ogbonna amongst others.

The House of Assembly members led by Hon, Hon Solomon Bonu, Badagry Constituency I; accompanied by Hon Adebola Shabi, Lagos Mainland Constituency II; and Hon Abiodun Orekoya, Somolu Constituency received the group

Penpushing also reports that while addressing the group said the lawmakers have listened to them based on what they brought, stressing that protection of women and girls is essential in Lagos State, assuring that the government won’t toy with it.

The lawmaker explained that the state is currently reviewing the Protection Against Domestic Violence Law of Lagos State signed into law in 2007, assuring that femicide can be looked into to strengthen the state laws because women and girls are vital to society.

‘We have listened to you based on what you brought to the House. Protection of women and girls is essential and in Lagos, we don’t joke with that. Femicide can be looked into to strengthen the state laws because women and girls are vital to society’, he stated

Penpushing reports that Bonu reiterated that Lagos state government does not tolerate domestic violence, emphasizing that he can count three cases the government has prosecute number of men that violated the law

‘I can count three cases where they have prosecuted most men that have violated this law. We are going to deliver what you brought before the speaker and the rest of the 39 members to debate it’, the lawmaker added.

Penpushing further reports that the United Nations (UN) Women explained that femicide is the killing of women or girls particularly by men on account of their gender, pointing out that it is the most brutal and extreme manifestation of violence against women and girls.

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