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Group Commends Osun for Passing VAPP into Law
The Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Honorable Timothy Owoeye; the Executive Director of HACEY Health Initiaitve, Rhoda Robinson; the State FGM coordinator, Toyin Adelowokan; the StopCut project lead, Oluwatomi Olunuga, and HACEY Osun state coordinator, Ayobami Alabi.
Ugo Aliogo, Shalom Uzochukwu and Favour Edgar
A Non-Governmental Organisation, HACEY Health Initiative, has commended Osun State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, for passing into law the Osun Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law.
A statement made available to THISDAY by organisation lauded Governor Oyetola for the historic milestone, stating that the move is great news for women and girls as it would promote women’s health while reducing incidents of gender-based violence in the state.
The statement also noted that HACEY and its team had earlier in the year paid an advocacy visit to the Osun State Speaker, Hon. Timothy Owoeye, which had in attendance the Executive Director of HACEY Health Initiative, Rhoda Robinson; the State Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) Coordinator, Toyin Adelowokan; the StopCut Project Lead, Oluwatomi Olunuga; HACEY Osun state coordinator, Ayobami Alabi; and the HACEY’s communication officer, Titilayo Fakeye.
“We recall that our StopCut project team paid a joint advocacy visit with the members of the End FGM alliance to the Speaker of the House of Assembly Osun State, Hon. Timothy Owoeye on August 5 to introduce the StopCut project and advocate for the adaptation of the VAPP Act and the amendment of the Osun State FGM law 2004,” the statement said.
Speaking on FGM, the Executive Director HACEY Health Initiative, Rhoda Robinson, described the practice as the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia for no medical reasons,
She further explained that over 20 million women and girls in Nigeria have experienced the harmful practice which had contributed to maternal health complications including obstetric fistula, painful sexual experience, and others.
Robinson disclosed that the state has made progress in reducing the prevalence of the FGM and urged the state to intensify its efforts, especially in endemic local governments.
According to the statement: “Research conducted by HACEY revealed that over 35 per cent of women in Osun have a girl child who has been circumcised, with the highest proportion reported in Ife North LGA (54.2 per cent) closely followed by Iwo LGA (47.7 per cent).
“HACEY had previously called on the governor during their visit to enforce laws and policies that protect women and girls from FGM, such as the VAPP act, and it was an important strategy for reducing the practice among community members.
“They were particularly happy that the governor had heeded their call and signed the bill to the law that will protect women and girls as well as create a healthy environment for productivity.”
Confirming the development, the First Lady of Osun State, Kafayat Oyetola said, “The Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, signed the Osun Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law at the Governor’s Office, Abere.”
The statement added that the law would serve as a key tool for the crusade and fight for the elimination of all forms of violence against girls and women.
