DOHS Cares Foundation,a non governmental organisation, has decried growing cases of femicide in Lagos State and other parts of the country,calling for legislation to check the problem.
The founder of the foundation, Mrs Lola Ajayi,expressed the concern on Thursday in Ikeja ,during the presentation of Femicide Draft Bill to the Lagos State House of Assembly for legislative action.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN reports that femicide is the killing of a woman or girl on account of her gender.
NAN reports that no fewer than 100 members of the foundation had matched through Allen Junction and other parts of Ikeja,campaigning against femicide,before the presentation the draft to State House of Assembly.
Ajayi said it was disturbing that women and girls were killed on a daily basis on account of their gender,calling for an end to the problem.
The founder said that between January and March 2024 , the foundation had attended to eight different femicide cases in Lagos.
Ajayi noted that the existing law on domestic and gender-based violence did not sufficiently address femicide.
According to her ,the law on femicide is supposed to cover violence against women and girls.
Ajayi said the foundation presented the draft bill to the state legislature so that the right law could be enacted to address femicide and other forms of gender-based violence.
“We are here to present a draft bill to the Lagos State House of Assembly. First of all, we want to create awareness on what femicide is; it is the intentional killing of women and girls with a gender bias.
“Intentional killing of women and girls that is characterised with history of domestic violence and sexual abuse.
“Just as we have been following cases of femicide even in Lagos state, we have had scores of femicide cases in the state.
“Up to this moment, we are still having history of women from sexual abuse and domestic violence that later died and their perpetrators are said to be at large.
“Some of these women are unnamed, some their bodies were found so this femicide is the highest form of violation against women and girls. It is a problem that must be addressed” she said.
According to her, the Assembly may introduce the draft bill to the House to become a law on femicide either in the criminal code or as a different law.
Ajayi said there was need for states to make laws on femicide as many girls and women were being killed on a daily basis.
She said there was no data on femicide in the country.
Receiving the draft bill, Mr Bonu Solomon, representing Badagry I, assured the foundation that the draft bill would be considered by the Assembly for consideration and passage.
Solomon, who is also the Chairman, House Committee on Tourism, said the Speaker, Mr Mudashiru Obasa and other lawmakers do not joke with bills were relating to the protection of women and girls in the state.
“We are giving you the assurance that we will deliver the draft bill before the Speaker and the rest of 39 members to debate it.
“We have listened to you based on what you brought before the house, which is the protection of women and girls, which is very important.
“In Lagos State, we don’t joke with this issue ,but I think there is a law guiding against this proposal presently which the wife of the governor is championing”,he said.
NAN reports that other lawmakers that received the foundation members were Mr Rasheed Sabi, representing Lagos Mainland II and Mr Abiodun Orekoya , representing Somolu I. (NAN)
