Stakeholders in Ondo State, on Wednesday, met and interacted on measures at tackling the increasing cases of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in the state.

The stakeholders, including magistrates, High Court judges, and relevant government appointees, brainstormed on how to check the prevalent rape cases in the state.

In his remarks, country director, Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), Adebowale Olorunmola, assured of the foundation’s readiness to partner with the State Agency Against Gender-Based Violence (OSAA-GBV) in nipping the menace in the bud.

Mr Olorunmola said that the foundation would continue to engage all the necessary sectors, particularly the media, to ensure the propagation of the law against GBV in the state.

The programme was tagged: “Enhancement of the Capacity of State Institutions for Effective Implementation of Laws to Promote Inclusion, Gender Equality and Reverse GBV.”

Also speaking on budgeting for OSAA-GBV to achieve its goals, special adviser to the Governor on gender matters, Olamide Falana, assured that provision would be made to take care of the victims who relocated from their homes.

Mrs Falana said that the state government had concluded plans for the construction of homes for adolescents and adults, especially victims of domestic violence.

According to her, statistics posted by Federal Ministry of Women Affairs in June showed that there are 17,848 reported cases of GBV, with 779 fatal cases, out of which 1,146 have been closed and 5,716 open cases.

“The record revealed that 248 perpetrators were convicted, while Ondo State recorded 158 reported cases,” she said.

Head, Department of Public Prosecution, Taiwo Olubodun, guided the prosecutors at the meeting on how to prepare charges against GBV suspects to avoid their cases being thrown out for want of evidence.

He enjoined the prosecutors always to use appropriate words and sections of the law when pressing charges against suspects.

In his presentation, Justice Bankole Akinwumi of the state High Court urged the agency to intensify public enlightenment on the existence of the GBV law.

According to him, many people are not aware of the existence of the law.

Mr Akinwumi called for the provision of logistics for gender desks at all the security agencies in the state in order to enhance their operations.

(NAN)