The Director, Office of the Public Defender (OPD) in Lagos State, Mrs. Olayinka Adeyemi has declared that rapists, perpetrators of violence against women and other abusers of human rights will have no place to hide until they are brought to justice.
Affirming this during the sensitisation and enlightenment walk organised by the Office of the Public Defender to celebrate the International Day for Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls, Adeyemi emphasised the importance of reawakening people’s conscience to the plight of women, girls, children and other vulnerable members in the society.
According to her, Lagos State Government is seriously concerned by the increased incidents of rape and the culture of silence that has made it difficult for the rape victims/ survivors to get justice.
Adeyemi encouraged victims of rape to speak out in order to remove veils from the faces of perpetrators, assuring them that Government would stand with them until Justice prevails.
She called on members of the society to support and not stigmatise victims of violence, cautioning the elite to desist from using their influence to shield violators of human dignity from justice.
Speaking further, the Director explained that it is only in an atmosphere devoid of abuse, where women are protected and enjoy fair treatment, that they can unleash their potentials for the nation’s growth and development.
While admonishing parents to be vigilant and desist from entrusting their children to strangers and those whose moral standard is questionable, Adeyemi called on victims of rape, abuse and other forms of violence in the State to take advantage of free legal services being rendered by the Office of the Public Defender to protect their rights.
The 2019 International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women themed “Generation Equality Stands Against Rape”, is a multi-year effort aimed at preventing and eliminating violence against women and girls, with focus on the issue of rape as a specific form of harm committed against women and girls in times of peace or war.
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