By Damola Kola-Dare
Disturbed by the alarming rate of rape and other sexual and gender-based crimes, a foundation, the Pastor Bimbo Odukoya Foundation (PBOF), has intensified its efforts at curbing or eradicating rape and other gender crimes.
Speaking yesterday at the foundation’s Annual Partners’ Day to commemorate the International Women’s Day 2020, Mrs Tinuke Olukoya, an expert and Director of Administration, Centre for Women’s Health and Information(CEWHIN), noted that sexual and gender-based violence has devastating effects on victims and could result in mental illness.
“Rape cases continue to proliferate and we need to do something about it. One in five women in the world is a victim of rape or attempted rape.
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“Each year, roughly two million girls between the ages of five and 15 are trafficked, sold or coerced into prostitution,” she said.
Odukoya said that women are more vulnerable to sexual crimes than men, noting that sexual violence reflects and reinforces existing gender inequalities.
While urging young people to speak up when abused, she said: “The data on sexual and gender-based violence and its reflecting figures on a nation like Nigeria is most appalling. In the country, sexual violence is increasing at an alarming rate, but with the right help, it can be managed.”
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