CAI4SR Advocates for Creation of Sexual Assault Referral Centres in Osun state

CAI4SR Advocates for Creation of Sexual Assault Referral Centres in Osun state

By Abisola Ariwodola,

Community Advancement Initiative for Self Reliance CAI4SR in conjunction with Lawyers Alert on Sexual Gender Based Violence, SGBV campaign advocated to Osun government through the Ministry of Health to set up Sexual Assault Referral Centres to resolve the issue of Sexual Gender Based Violence SGBV victims among others.

This was revealed under the SCALE Component Five by USAID on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) and Child, Early and Forced Marriage (CEFM) Sector Strengthening & Advocacy.

The Executive Director Community Advancement Initiative for Self Reliance CAI4SR, Mrs Eni Ayeni made this known at the advocacy call made to the Director Public Health, Dr Hakeem Bello on Monday.

According to the CAI4SR Director, the activation/implementation of Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law VAPPL and Administration of Criminal Justice Law, ACJL is targeted at Bauchi, Benue, Enugu, Kaduna, Osun, and the FCT, towards speedy justice service delivery and resolution of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) cases. 

The Non-governmental and not-for-profit organization founded to champion the course of women, children and persons with disabilities through innovative programmes to ensure protection of rights and attainment of full potentials of its target, appreciated Osun government for the women, children and persons with disabilities laws, maintain that the Sexual Assault Referral Centre will provide support for SGB victims.

She opined that with the Sexual Assault Referral Centre in place, it will aide speedy justice service delivery and resolution of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) cases with the VAPP and ACJ Laws, although passed in all project locations.

In their goodwill messages, Chairman Joint National Association of Persons with Disability: Mr Oluwafemi Stephen, JONAPWD women wing coordinator: Mrs Funmi Abdullahi and Dr Ayeni expressed the need for identification of children with disability in mainstream schools, medical intervention and free access and  health support services to PWDs in Osun state.

In response, the Director Public Health, Dr Hakeem Bello lauded the NGO for being Women, Children and Persons with Disability friendly, added that Osun government is always ready to partner organizations in providing the needed enabling environment for its targets.

He said the creation of the Sexual Assault Referral Centre is ongoing, and when completed, it will be launched, he also asked for the cooperation of CAI4SR on other related cases, said the School Health Desk services will be revived, more persons with disability will be assisted in getting enrolled for free health services on the Osun Health Insurance Scheme OHIS program among others.