Source: This Day
The Ekiti State House of Assembly has passed the Violation Bill which provides protection from gender- based violence, particularly for women and children.

The bill was passed last Thursday, after a public hearing which recorded an unprecedented crowd made up mainly of women and representatives of non-governmental organisations and professional groups at the Assembly.

The Gender-Based Violation (GBV) Bill was sponsored by the wife of Ekiti State Governor, Mrs. Bisi Fayemi, in collaboration with the Ministry of Women Affairs, Social Development and Gender Empowerment; office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Planning and Millennium Development Goals (MDGs); and the Ekiti chapter of the Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA-Ekiti), in response to rising cases of gross abuses affecting individuals or groups disproportionately because of their sex.

Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Dr. Adewale Omirin, said the importance of the law could not be overemphasised, adding that its passage would go a long way to reduce crime and also guarantee the rights of the citizens from some forms of abuses.

The GBV law covers diverse types and forms of violence. These include acts or threats to commit acts liable to result in physical, sexual, economic and emotional, verbal or psychological abuse. Harassment, including sexual harassment, exploitation and intimidation by inducing fear in another person and all acts of domestic violence perpetrated by intimate partners and family members.

It also covers harmful traditional practices such as female genital mutilation and widowhood rites; imposition of dress codes under any guise; child marriage and criminalising pregnancy outside marriage.

The bill details the procedures for filling complaints to the police and ways of obtaining protection orders from the court to prevent individuals or groups from carrying out a threat of gender-based violence against applicants. The bill provides protection for people against possible abuse as well as ensures justice for those that have experienced different forms of gender-based violence.

• Nigeria