JDPI Sensitizes Residents on Context of Gender Based Violence Prohibition Law of Ekiti State on New Cruse 92.7 FM

Justice, Development and Peace Initiative, JDPI, of the Catholic Diocese of Ekiti on Monday, 7th August, 2023 continued its sensitization to Ekiti residents on the context of the Gender Based Violence Prohibition Law of Ekiti State on New Cruse 92.7 FM, Ikere-Ekiti.

In a recap of the previous editions of the half-hour radio programme, Barr. Anthony Kayode said the Gender Based Violence Prohibition Law of Ekiti State is put in place to tackle the issues of GBV by both gender.

He said: “We started with the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act and this is applicable at the federal level while Ekiti State has the Gender Based Violence Prohibition Law. 

“We have to make people to understand that GBV can be committed by either gender, both male and female. It could be psychological, emotional or denying them access on the basis of their gender. 

“We discussed stalking, abandonment of spouses, emotional and psychological abuse. These are offences and they have punishments attached to them.”

On the context of GBV Prohibition Law of Ekiti State, Barr. Kayode noted that spousal battery applies to married people where they tend to use it for correctional behaviours of their spouse. 

“Spousal battery comes from the word to batter someone. Spousal battery applies to people who are married and this happens when there is a misunderstanding. Spousal battery occurs as a means of correction but it’s not right and men tend to use is as justification to beat their wives.”

On his part, Director of JDPI in Ekiti State, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Akingbade said the spousal battery provision of the law is dealing with violence between husband and wife. 

He went further to state the penalty that is punishable for such violence under the Gender Based Violence Prohibition Law of Ekiti State. 

Rev. Fr. Akingbade said: “Some married persons think they can do anything they like to their partners because one of the principles of marriage is the principle of unity ‘what God has joined together, let no man put asunder’ and so they are no longer two but have become one. 

“So, they feel anything the like they can do to their wife or husband. This particular provision of the law is dealing with violence between husband and wife. Under the law that you are married to someone is not the license to do whatever you like to that person or beat, apply force, hit or assault the other person. 

“The penalty for that is a minimum of one-year imprisonment or a fine of N200,000. Attempting to commit the act, aiding or counseling someone to commit the act has a minimum of one-year imprisonment or N200,000 fine.”

On the provision of the law that has to do with intimidation, Barr. Kayode said it is a tool for manipulation where an individual asserts influence over someone which can lead to violation of human rights. 

“Intimidation can be considered a GBV when it used to manipulate or control a person. There are ways you can intimidate someone if you have a control over such person. Intimidation is a tool of manipulation by asserting your influence over someone in a way you ought not to have done. It’s a violation of human rights because that person won’t be free to express himself and you have manipulated his feelings.”