Kwara First Lady leads walk against gender-based violence

Wife of Kwara State Governor, Olufolake AbdulRazaq, yesterday, led women on a walk against gender-based violence and sexual abuse in Ilorin, calling for mass support against the scourge.

The rally, which began at the Kwara State Banquet Hall, saw the women walk through the popular Ahmadu Bello Way through to Challenge, Post Office-Sulu-Gambari Road and back to the starting point. Most of the participants carried placards with inscriptions like Stop Child Abuse, Walk Against Rape, End Rape, Keep Hope Alive, and Kwara Says No to Domestic Violence.

Themed ‘Count me in, together we move Kwara forward’, the governor’s wife said the advocacy walk was to create awareness on the prevalence of gender-based violence with a view to stemming the tide.

“Each year, on November 25, the world commemorates the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, followed by 16 days of activism against gender based violence, which culminate in Human Rights Day on December 10. The events provide a global platform for action by governments, organisations and individuals to mobilise and draw attention to the urgent need to end gender based violence,” she said.

She said gender-based violence comes in different forms and could be found in the family, community and larger society.

Chairman, Kwara State House of Assembly Committee on Health, Razaq Owolabi urged parents to monitor the movement of their children, particularly females, to guide against all forms of abuse.

The State Head of Service, Mrs. Susan Oluwole, also called for collective responsibility in checking child abuse and sexual violence in the state.

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