Date: 2016-11-25

...urges victims to speak up not die in silence

30 cases of violence is recorded daily in Kwara State, according to the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA).

The disclosure was made by the Chairperson of FIDA in Kwara State, Barr Ronke Adeyemi during an interview with this medium on Tuesday as the world marks the celebration of "International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women," tomorrow (Friday).

"On the average, FIDA gets about 6-7 cases of domestic violence on women every week. That's to say that more than one cases of violence on women are recorded daily. It should be understood that in both civilised and uncivilised society that nothing should call for a situation or warrant husbands attacking their wives. She however urged women across the globe have been urged to unite and speak up against violence.

Speaking ahead of November 25, adopted by the United Nations (UN) as a day to create awareness internationally to eliminate violence against women, Adeyemi said, "There are many obvious dangers women are vulnerable to at the home front and in the society generally. We appreciate the efforts of the media in exposing these atrocious acts of violence and assaults on the vulnerable female genders.

"Though women or wives are not only the victims of home or societal violence, the children are also targets or victims of such attacks," she said, adding that violence at times emanate from the husband, the wife, landlord or at work place. She added that women are in most cases the subject of matrimonial attacks because they are generally weaker in terms of strength compared to men. Speaking further on the issue she said, "We usually have cases of women abuse and in most cases the husbands used to justify their callous act of violence with various reasons. "Physical assault on women is never a solution to any domestic problem or issue." The Chairperson continued to say that on the other hand there are some few instances where women would be violent against men."

While identifying the causes of violence, she said, "With my experience, infidelity is the greatest cause of the problem followed by family pressure in situations where the wife or the husband doesn't respect members of the other party's family.

"In some cases, economic challenges engender violence at home," she said, adding that it is a criminal offence for a man to physically assault his wife and that there are extant laws protecting women from act of violence from time immemorial.

Barr Adeyemi advocated that there should be specific law prohibiting husbands from beating their wives. She stressed that the act is not only perpetrated by the low earners in the society or the less educated but also by the affluent and professionals like medical doctors, teachers and lawyers.

"When cases of this nature are brought to FIDA, what we first do is to summon a fair hearing forum by inviting the husband involved and seek ways to reconcile both parties and counsel them on the right things to do to forestall future occurrence."

She however advised women to always report cases of violence to their counsellors, family members, pastors, lawyers or FIDA rather than die in silence.