Ambode recommends 25-year jail term for rapists

Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Monday recommended
minimum sentence of 25 years for rapists, saying rape should not be
met with light sentencing.

Ambode made the recommendation during a symbolic walk against
domestic and sexual violence at Alausa.

“It is highly recommended. We need new laws which will respond
adequately to the nature and occurrences of this era.

“Domestic violence is a crime and should be treated as such. The
Protection against Domestic Violence Law, 2007 should, therefore,
be amended accordingly,” he said.

Ambode urged the Nigeria Police Force, which was usually the
first point of call, to strive to be more professional and ensure
proper investigation of reported cases by grooming specialist
officers in that regard.

“As the saying goes, the best time to plant a tree was 20 years
ago; the next best time is now.

“ We firmly believe that the actions we take today will be the
seeds sown for a brighter future for our women and indeed, our
children.

“We believe our state can continue to pioneer in this agenda and
become a benchmark not just in Nigeria, but globally,” he said.

The governor said that a lot of progress had been made in
protecting the rights of women and the girl-child, and against
“oppression of the female gender’’, there was still so much to be
done.

“We need to ask ourselves the hard question: for this course we
honour today, how can we truly ensure we are walking the talk?

“In our state, there has been a significant increase in formal
and informal reporting of domestic and sexual violence cases, but
contrary to what it appears to be, this menace is not a recent
development.

“These occurrences have been around for years, but they were
seen as norms because nobody spoke out against them, and such acts
were overlooked based on misguided definitions of gender roles.

“What we are tackling today is an almost innate culture which
relegates women to the background, and forces them to suffer in
silence.

“In Lagos, we are waging a war against this culture and we will
do everything within our power to transform ours to a culture of
equality, respect and dignity for all.

“It is a journey of radical transformation, and our government
is wholly committed to seeing it through,” he said.

Ambode said that the state’s Domestic and Sexual Violence
Response Team had executed various interventions and initiatives as
regards fighting sexual and gender-based violence.

“We are not just reactive in helping survivors, but also taking
aggressive steps to prevent future occurrences.

“Our aim is to build a system of trust and accountability, where
survivors are encouraged to speak out and potential perpetrators
are discouraged to commit future acts,” he said.

On Land Use charge, the governor noted that the state government
was still open to dialogue.

“I really mean it when I say I want dialogue. By the end of the
week, we should be able to come out with something meaningful to
ameliorate the issues being raised,” he said.

Earlier, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Imohinmi
Edgal, described the walk as significant, saying it would heighten
people’s consciousness to always be at alert and report cases of
domestic and sexual abuse.

Some participants in the walk carried placards with various
inscriptions, including “Domestic Violence is Not a Family Matter,
Report It”, “Women Empowerment, Gender Parity, that’s what I stand
for” and “Lagos State says no to domestic violence”.

NAN

Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Monday recommended
minimum sentence of 25 years for rapists, saying rape should not be
met with light sentencing.

Ambode made the recommendation during a symbolic walk against
domestic and sexual violence at Alausa.

“It is highly recommended. We need new laws which will respond
adequately to the nature and occurrences of this era.

“Domestic violence is a crime and should be treated as such. The
Protection against Domestic Violence Law, 2007 should, therefore,
be amended accordingly,” he said.

Ambode urged the Nigeria Police Force, which was usually the
first point of call, to strive to be more professional and ensure
proper investigation of reported cases by grooming specialist
officers in that regard.

“As the saying goes, the best time to plant a tree was 20 years
ago; the next best time is now.

“ We firmly believe that the actions we take today will be the
seeds sown for a brighter future for our women and indeed, our
children.

“We believe our state can continue to pioneer in this agenda and
become a benchmark not just in Nigeria, but globally,” he said.

The governor said that a lot of progress had been made in
protecting the rights of women and the girl-child, and against
“oppression of the female gender’’, there was still so much to be
done.

“We need to ask ourselves the hard question: for this course we
honour today, how can we truly ensure we are walking the talk?

“In our state, there has been a significant increase in formal
and informal reporting of domestic and sexual violence cases, but
contrary to what it appears to be, this menace is not a recent
development.

“These occurrences have been around for years, but they were
seen as norms because nobody spoke out against them, and such acts
were overlooked based on misguided definitions of gender roles.

“What we are tackling today is an almost innate culture which
relegates women to the background, and forces them to suffer in
silence.

“In Lagos, we are waging a war against this culture and we will
do everything within our power to transform ours to a culture of
equality, respect and dignity for all.

“It is a journey of radical transformation, and our government
is wholly committed to seeing it through,” he said.

Ambode said that the state’s Domestic and Sexual Violence
Response Team had executed various interventions and initiatives as
regards fighting sexual and gender-based violence.

“We are not just reactive in helping survivors, but also taking
aggressive steps to prevent future occurrences.

“Our aim is to build a system of trust and accountability, where
survivors are encouraged to speak out and potential perpetrators
are discouraged to commit future acts,” he said.

On Land Use charge, the governor noted that the state government
was still open to dialogue.

“I really mean it when I say I want dialogue. By the end of the
week, we should be able to come out with something meaningful to
ameliorate the issues being raised,” he said.

Earlier, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Imohinmi
Edgal, described the walk as significant, saying it would heighten
people’s consciousness to always be at alert and report cases of
domestic and sexual abuse.

Some participants in the walk carried placards with various
inscriptions, including “Domestic Violence is Not a Family Matter,
Report It”, “Women Empowerment, Gender Parity, that’s what I stand
for” and “Lagos State says no to domestic violence”.

NAN