Community stakeholders have converged on Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital to find a solution to sexual and gender violence.
The town hall meeting was organised by the Centre for Women’s Health and Information (CEWHIN).
It had the theme: ‘Partnership for enhanced violence against women and girls prevention among religious and traditional stakeholders in Ogun State’.
Secretary, Ogun State Council for Islamic Affairs, Dr Salami Fatai, advised muslim leaders to take interest and create space for their members to confide in them and give them appropriate counsel.
He pledged to embark on capacity building for women and training for muslim religious leaders.
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Apostle Tola Adenekan of Cherubim and Seraphim Church, Chapel of Faith Abeokuta stressed the need to hand abusers to the authorities, adding that Christianity is built on love and peace and does support violence in marriages.
An community leader, Alhaji Adesina Adefolaran, called for the protection of the female child, warning parents whose children hawk or sell their wares to stop the practice.
He urged neighbours to be whistle-blowers against the exploitation of house helps.
Adefolaran emphasised the importance of breaking the culture of silence and ignoring the popular sentiment of staying for the children in an abusive marriage.
Key commitments from the meeting include, creating awareness of government provisions like helplines and agencies and advising community members to use them; encouraging women to be economically resourceful and not leave financial responsibility solely to their husbands, among others.