Sexual Assault Referral Centre opens in Ogun State
A Sexual Assault Referral Centre has been inaugurated in Ogun State, to bring crime against women and minors to the barest minimum and ensure victims are duly compensated.
Wife of the State Governor, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun, while speaking during the commissioning, at Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, (OOUTH), Sagamu, said all cases of sexual assault and gender-based violence in the State, would get justice, as it was in line with the Governor’s passion for gender-based violence free and crime against women and minors.
Mrs. Abiodun noted that it was imperative for the victims of the sexual assault to be rehabilitated, compensated and reintegrated into the society, adding that the government would do everything within its fold to ensure justice for them.
“The menace has become the order of the day in our society, and we are assuring that the case in the State will reduce drastically with the commissioning of referral centre, now, no sexual assault person(s) in the State will go scot free”, she said.
The Governor’s wife who described sexual assault as a form of trauma and psychological imbalances, which could show up in different ways, said the victims might have memory flashbacks, which could take her physically back to that time and result in panic attacks, and may include nightmares or intrusive thoughts and memories.
On his part, the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Akingbolahan Adeniran, represented by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Legal Matters, Mr. Olumide Mustapha said the successful investigation and prosecution of Sexual Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) crime is of paramount concern to the State government, adding that it is essential for his Ministry to carry out justice for the crimes committed against them.
“The successful support of SGBV victims, through empowerment and rehabilitation are other important element at ensuring the adverse impact of crimes on the lives of victims is mitigated as much as possible”, Adeniran said.
Speaking, the Country Representative of United Nations Population Fund (UNICEF), in Nigeria, Mrs. Uller Mueller, pointed out that gender-based violence must be tackled, in order to maintain a peaceful co-existence within male and female gender in the country.
Mrs. Mueller noted that violence against women and minor is at alarming rate, calling on the people to stand against it, to enable victims get justice.
“It is imperative to seek for justice for the victims of sexual violence, whoever rape or violate minor’s right, should seek for justice in the competent court of law”, Mueller said.