Gender based violence have been identified as major forms of violence which the society must fight to ensure equality and justice for all.

The Executive Secretary, Ondo State Agency Against Gender Based Violence (OSAA-GBV), Barrister (Mrs) Bolanle Afolabi, in a statement in Akure, the Ondo State capital, described Gender Based Violence as an act of violence directed at an individual based on their gender, adding that it is rooted in gender inequality, power imbalance and harmful norms.

According to her, it is an action that causes pain, suffering, destruction, distress, injustice and violation of a person’s rights.

She explained that although men and women experience gender based violence, women are most affected, stressing that the action affects not only physical health but also mental health and may lead to self-harm, isolation, depression or death.

” The United Nations, General Assembly Declaration on the Elimination of violence against women (resolution 48/104 of December 1993) defines violence against women as meaning”any act of gender based violence that results or likely to result in physical, sexual, psychological harm or suffering to women, including the threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty whether occurring in public or private life”.

“The Declaration states further that violence against women is a manifestation of historically unequal power relations between men and women which has led to domination and discrimination against women by men and to the prevention of the full advancement of women.

“It is one of the social mechanisms by which women are forced into a subordinate position compared with men. However, violence is a choice and it is preventable”, the Executive Secretary stressed.