Akinwunmi Ambode, Lagos State governor, Thursday led an all-men walk against sexual and gender-based violence. The walk started from Ikeja under-bridge, through Awolowo Road, to Lagos House in Alausa. Many dignitaries, including state’s executive and legislative members reportedly participated in the walk.
Carrying a placard with ‘Stop Rape, Domestic Violence, Child Abuse’ inscription, Ambode enjoined the walkers to support the fight against child and women abuse in society.
“There is also an evident trend of suppressing the voice of these victims due to the fact that these acts are perpetrated largely by men. We should not take for granted the potential exponential effect of having emotionally and psychologically damaged women in a society as the effect could transcend to their children who grow up in an environment, thinking this is the norm,” Ambode said.
The governor added that government had created several programs, including legal aid, shelter and psychological counselling to assist these women, he said it was also pertinent to address the violent behavior of men as it concerns Rape, Domestic Violence and Child Abuse.
“The scale of men’s violence against women is enormous and its effect, demoralizing. Men as grandfathers, fathers, brothers, sons, husbands and public advocates have a pivotal role to play in condemning all forms of violence against women, girls and boys.
“We firmly believe that the way forward is to continuously engage the male folk as well as the community as a whole. Community engagement is an essential part of working to prevent and respond to all forms of Gender Based Violence.
“As men, we must stand up and speak in one voice, condemning these acts. No more would we condone or tolerate peadophiles, women beaters and rapists. It is inhumane and totally unacceptable to protect or even ignore such behaviour when we see it manifesting in our environment”.
