An Ilorin-based legal practitioner, Dr. Biola Adimula, has said that domestic violence should be made a criminal offence, to ensure justice for victims.
Adimula disclosed this in an address she delivered on Thursday in Ilorin, at an event organized by Kwara chapter of the Federation of Women Lawyers, FIDA, to commemorate the 16 days activism campaign to end violence against women.
The theme of the programme was ”Violence Against Women and Children: the Role of the Society.”
Adimula listed battery, forced marriage, rape, female genital mutilation, as some forms of violence against women, while calling for an ”inclusive approach” to end the trend.
She also called on the Judiciary to review the lapses of the family court, to ensure proper dispensation of justice, particularly on issues relating to children.
Earlier, Chairperson of FIDA, Hajia Salmat Muhammed, urged witnesses of violence to come forward and testify in court for proper dispensation of justice.
In separate remarks, Chairperson of the Organising Committee, Mrs. Gloria Okoduwa, and Chairperson of the event, Mrs. Toun Olorunmaiye, spoke against bullying amongst school children, the need to counsel the boy-child on respect for the female gender, and the role of parents in protecting their children from domestic violence.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that goodwill messages were received from various women groups in Kwara, including the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, (NAWOJ) and the Gender Unit, INEC. (NAN)
