Gender based violence: Osun to establish mobile courts

The Osun state government has announced readiness to establish mobile courts to try Gender Based Violence GBV Cases.

Governor, Ademola Adeleke made the declaration during a courtesy visit to the Ministry of Women Affairs in Abuja on Wednesday.

While observing that women are pivotal to national growth and require necessary supports to enable them contribute their quota to the nation’s socio-economic advancement, he added that his administration is positively inclined towards promoting the interest of women and youths and will sustain its partnership with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs.

This follows an earlier approval by the Governors’ Forum for the establishment of mobile courts in all states and the FCT for quick dispensation of justice of gender based violence GBV cases.

Affirming his commitment, on all agreements reached during his visit to the minister or women affairs, Barrister Uju Kennedy Ohanenye, Adeleke directed “for immediate implementation of the resolution of the Nigerian Governor’s Forum for the establishment of Mobile Courts dedicated to addressing issues of sexual and gender based violence, child abuse in the form of street begging and expedited trial of women and children held in correctional facilities”.

He also added that in the spirit of Lent, Easter and Ramadan period, he had directed his Commissioner for Justice to prepare an executive order to free all unjustly incarcerated women in the state.

According to the Governor, the Justice Ministry will compile a list of affected women across the state to be granted executive pardon in furtherance of protection of women rights.

Responding, the Minister of Women Affairs, commended the governor for approving the immediate establishment of Mobile Courts in the state.

She added that Osun has been scheduled among other states that will receive the next batches of industrial machines, modernized farming equipment for Rice, Cassava, Cocoa and Fish farming as part of efforts by the Ministry to boost agri-business and sustainably empower women in Osun.

The Minister also applauded the Governor for endorsing partnership with the Ministry to train women on skills acquisition, especially in the area of producing local fabrics and solicited for women in the state to get integrated into the E-market portal recently launched by the Ministry to provide a one-stop-shop on-line platform for seamless business ventures that will further enhance the socio-economic status of women in the state.

“This Ministry will also follow through on our own side of the agreement reached today. We will work on the inclusion of Osun in our empowerment programmes. We will place Osun on priority list as a critical partner.”