The Oyo government has reiterated its determination to prosecute perpetrators of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV).

The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Toyin Balogun, said this on Thursday in Ibadan during a stakeholders sensitisation meeting on SGBV and the COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Project (CoPREP).

Ms Balogun, who emphasised that there is an existing law against SGBV in the country, added that “there is no hiding place for perpetrators of such heinous acts in Oyo state.”

According to her, the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) and Sexual and Gender-Based Agency/Referral Centre laws exist.

She charged policymakers not to be onlookers but social architects striving for systemic change to ensure perpetrators were held accountable, regardless of social status or position of power.

Ms Balogun said, “Survivors of SGBV must also be supported with accessible services, including healthcare, legal aid, counselling and safe shelter.”

The commissioner added that silence and stigma surrounding SGBV should be broken to enable survivors to speak out and to seek redress.

The commissioner urged relevant stakeholders at the meeting to collectively brainstorm against future outbreaks of the COVID-19 pandemic and other infectious and contagious diseases.

(NAN)