By Olasunkanmi Akoni

LAGOS—GOVERNOR Akinwumi Ambode of Lagos State, yesterday, stressed the need for amendment of laws that will give stiffer punishment for offenders of sexual and gender-based violence.

Ambode, represented by Secretary to State Government, SSG, Tunji Bello, made the call at the closing ceremony of the 18thRegular National Council on Women Affairs and Social Development, hosted by Lagos State Government, through the state’s Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, held in Ikeja, Lagos.

The programme was themed: ‘Peace, security and social inclusion: Key building blocks for achieving Economic Growth and Sustainable Development.’

Ambode said: “Gender-based violence is a menace that must be kicked out of our social system in order to protect and preserve the dignity of womanhood.

“In Lagos, the issue of sexual abuse and gender-based violence is being addressed relentlessly through the Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team, DSVRT.”

Earlier, Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Aisha Jummai Alhassan, called on states to renew their Children Parliaments to allow them participate in all programmes that affect them. She said: ”The implementation is for the welfare and well-being of women, children, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.”

“The national Child Rights implementation committee was inaugurated to ensure the implementation of Rights of the child under the act and all other instruments such as the African Charter of the Rights of the Child and the UN convention on the rights of the child. This is in addition to the high-level advocacy I have undertaken to the various States that are yet to domesticate the Child Rights Act and to ensure implementation by the states that have domesticated the law.”