Rise in violence against women worries Ondo gov’s wife

Wife of Ondo State governor, Mrs Oluwafemi Mimiko, yesterday raised alarm over the increasing cases of violence against women in the society.  She took a swipe at men who batter and humiliate their wives, saying some women have lost their lives in the process.  Mrs Mimiko spoke in Akure, at the commissioning of Another Chance […]

Wife of Ondo State governor, Mrs Oluwafemi Mimiko, yesterday raised alarm over the increasing cases of violence against women in the society.
 She took a swipe at men who batter and humiliate their wives, saying some women have lost their lives in the process.
 Mrs Mimiko spoke in Akure, at the commissioning of Another Chance Women’s Home, a safe haven for women that suffer partner violence and sexual abuse powered by the Funke Felix-Adejumo Foundation.
 The governor’s wife said the prevalent economic pressure and tension have alarming effects on the men, and if not checked will further aggravate the economic recession of the nation because women play vital roles as home builders.
 While assuring women in the state of zero tolerance to such abuse in the society, she promised that the state Ministry for Women Affairs and Social Development would synergize with the home for maximum curtailment.
She lauded the president of Another Chance Women’s Home, Rev. Mrs Funke Felix-Adejumo for providing succour and comfort to women who are battered and humiliated by their male counterparts.
 Rev Adejumo said that the WHO survey reveals that “10 to 58 percent of women have experienced physical abuse by an intimate partner in their life time. Globally, as many as 38% of murders of women are committed by an intimate partner.
“There is no specific or direct national law that protects the right of women against violence in Nigeria, except The Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act,” which suffered several setbacks before it became law seven years after.
 “Despite the above constitutional right, domestic violence is a problem in Nigeria encouraged by the loopholes in the law, strengthened by the cultural family structure,” she said.
 “We plan to educate and empower victims financially. Findings show that money is often used as means of power and control,” Rev Adejumo said, adding that if they were financially chained to their partners, they might likely endure much hardship.