Group Urges Ogun Govt to Establish Special Court, Trust Fund for Gender-Based Violence Cases

Group Urges Ogun Govt to Establish Special Court, Trust Fund for Gender-Based Violence Cases

By Fly Cable News

The Ogun State Technical Working Group advocating for gender equality and an end to Gender-Based Violence (GBV) has called on the state government to establish a GBV Trust Fund and a special court to address the growing menace effectively.

The coalition, which includes the Women Advocate Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC), African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF), and Women for Peace and Gender Equality Initiative (WOPEGEE), among others, has been working on GBV prevention and women’s empowerment in the state over the past year.

Speaking in Abeokuta, Dr. Mojisola Akinsanya, Executive Director of WOPEGEE and lead representative of the group, highlighted the alarming rise in cases of incest, rape, and other forms of GBV. She emphasized the need for sustained funding and dedicated legal structures to prosecute offenders swiftly.

The group proposed allocating 0.5% of the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to a GBV Trust Fund to support survivors and enhance response mechanisms. They also called for increased investment in women’s empowerment programs to promote economic independence and reduce vulnerability to GBV.

Dr. Akinsanya stated, “Globally, 1 in 3 women and girls experience violence in their lifetime. In Ogun State, underfunding remains a significant barrier to empowering women, protecting survivors, and holding perpetrators accountable.”

While commending Governor Dapo Abiodun’s efforts in establishing Sexual Assault Referral Centres and empowering over 67,000 women through initiatives like the “Nigeria for Women” project, the group stressed the need for collaborative partnerships among government, civil society, and the private sector to create sustainable solutions.