…urges govt to help protect rights of the girl-child
A women advocacy group, Lady of Africa Empowerment and Advocacy Foundation (LAEAF) has called on government at all levels to ensure that the right of the girl-child is protected, amid rising cases of domestic sexual abuses of girls.
While reacting to the increase in cases of sexual abuses of teenagers, the founder of the group, Princess Oluwabukola Fasuyi, said it was disheartening to hear of cases of fathers sexually molesting their daughters.
According to her, children who are victims of such abuses end up becoming wayward and live with the psychological effects of the abuse, for the rest of their lives.
Citing the case of a 14-year old girl at Meiran, Lagos State, who was sexually molested many times by her father before she was rescued by the organisation, Fasuyi said the victim is currently battling with the trauma, having been introduced to a wayward lifestyle as a result of her father’s action.
She added the organisation was making every effort to assist the victim recover from the abuse and had enrolled her in one of the government’s schools in the state.
“It’s high time government ensured that the right of girl child is protected. It’s disturbing when. you hear stories of fathers sleeping with their daughters.
“We have a case of a 14-year old girl who was sexually abused by her father. At times, the girl would run out of the house in the middle of the night whenever the father wanted to. sleep with her. This happened on several occasions.
“When we got wind of it, we had to rescue the girl and report the matter to the police. The father was arrested, charged to court, and is currently in prison custody while the case is going on in court.
“The action has made the girl wayward but the organisation is trying to re-orientate her and give her a new lease of life,” she recalled.
Fasuyi also cited the case of a 17-year old girl, Motunrayo, who was rescued in Epe after being sexually molested by her father, on several occasions.
The victim’s plight was brought to the attention of Lady of Africa Foundation by another Foundation based in Epe, All Fulfilment Foundation. Lady of Africa Foundation promptly took over her welfare, she recounted.
According to her, the LAEAF reported the matter to the police and the father was arrested. The case is presently in court.
” We are urging the government to pay more attention to women by empowering them. It’s said when you build a woman, you build a nation. Many young girls who grow up to be wayward are victims of domestic abuses from childhood. Government must ensure violators are brought to book.
“Law enforcement agencies must ensure violators are prosecuted and justice is served to victims. The girl-child should be educated while parents, especially mothers, should pay adequate attention to their daughters to protect them from randy, incestuous fathers,” she urged.
Lady of Africa Empowerment and Foundation is a non governmental organisation committed to the empowerment and rapid development of women.
Over the years, the Foundation has been involved in several cases involving the welfare of women.
In 2009, the Foundation rescued one Dupe Olowoyo, a widow and single mother of two who was down with cervical cancer.
Several millions of Naira were reportedly spent on her treatment by the Foundation before she was cured of the disease, and was later empowered by the Foundation.
Likewise one Yinka Popoola, a single mother of four who was treated for cancer of the mouth by the Foundation.