By Josephine Oguntoyinbo

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In other to put at bay every form of gender based violence in Ondo State,the State House of Assembly, has organised a public hearing on a bill for a law to eliminate violence in private and public life.
The bill prohibits all forms of violence against persons and to provide for maximum and effective remedies for victims and punishment of offenders and other related matters.
Declaring the public hearing open, the Speaker of the House, Mr Bamidele Oleyelogun said that the enactment of the law would assist in steming the tide of the ugly incidence of rape, domestic violence, harmful traditional practices and other related matters that are being perpetrated against women, children and others in the state.
The Speaker urged the committee members to do justice to the bill in the overall interest of the people of the state, assuring participants that their opinions and memorandas would be given legislative attention .
He appreciated the State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and his wife Betty Anyanwu -Akeredolu for forwarding the bill to the house.
In his opening remarks,the Chairman House Ad-hoc Committee on Violence Against Person/Gender Related Matters,Mr Simon Toluwani Borokini avered that violence affect all and sundry either directly or indirectly.
Borokini added that violence has nothing to do with religion or status , saying that it was time for its end in the state.
” Violence against persons is the most pervasive. It knows no boundaries culture or wealth.
“As long as it continues, we cannot claim to be making real progress towards development and peace,” he noted.
He maintained that the recent upsurge in cases of violence against persons in the society had stirred the concern of many stakeholders in the society, bringing to fore the need to domesticate the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law( VAAP).
” Before now, this bill has been passed by the Senate but with few states domesticating it, but in recent time, some of our neighbouring states like: Ekiti, have domesticated the law.
He said that if the bill is passed into law, the state would be the first to have full-fledged agency catering for violence-related matters, adding that the agency would be under the office of the state First Lady.
The Committee Chairman, who thanked the state First Lady for her unflinching defence for the rights of the female child in the state and for her keen interest in VAAP, said that violence had eaten deep into societal values.
Borokini also thanked the leadership of the House and other stakeholders for their inputs to ensure a violence-free society.
Speaking on behalf of regents in the state, the Regent of Ibule, in Ifedore Local Council Area of the state, Princess Moyinoluwa Falowo,
asked for stricter punishment for offenders of violent acts.
The representative of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Gabriel Ayeleso said that the contents of the bills should give room for child discipline, decrying some provisions in the advanced countries which forbid parents and guardians to discipline their children and wards without being sued.
In her submission, Mrs Adefunke Odefa, who represented Catholic Women Organization charged the lawmakers to consider inclusion of widows’ rights in the bill, frowning on a situation whereby a widow’s late husband’s gratuity, property were taken away by the man’s extended family without allowing them access.
During the hearing, various organisations, agencies, Non Governmental Organizations pointed out grey areas of the bill that needed amendment, while the lawmakers promised to ensure a robust bill.