Lagos – Lagos State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, has called for the enforcement of laws to protect women against domestic violence.
Orelope-Adefulire made the call at a conference organised by the Federal Neuro-Psychiatry Hospital, Yaba chapter of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) in Lagos.
The Deputy Governor, represented by Dr Olufemi Olugbile, a former Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Lagos state, spoke on the conference with the theme: “Violence Against Women: The Psychological Consequences’’.
She said: “According to the National Coalition against Domestic Violence, about 1.3 million women were assaulted by an intimate partner every year.
“Also, 25 per cent of women will experience violence in their lifetime and for how long will such cases continue.
“Should we not put in place more stringent and serious mechanisms to curb and discourage violence in the homes, particularly against women?,’’ she asked.
She said several studies had shown that there was a correlation between development and the treatment of women in a society.
“It is, therefore, imperative that in addition to the plans being made to meet the Millennium Development Goals, our leaders must reform the laws to protect women who are violated.
“It is common knowledge that the state and its various institutions are, especially crucial in ensuring that its citizens are protected and have access to the basic necessities of life,’’ she said.
Orelope-Adefulire said that adequate knowledge and information through sensitisation and campaigns would help to reduce cases of domestic violence.
The Guest Speaker, a Consultant Psychiatrist, Dr Grace Ijarogbe, said that up to 60 per cent of homes have domestic violence and are unreported.
Ijarogbe said that most cases were not reported due to cultural background, family set up and economic reasons where the man was said to earn more than women.
“So, a lot of this violence will go unreported, because the perpetuators seem to be at a higher advantage than the victim.
“When violence is committed against a woman, she feels worthless, have low esteem, and if the abuse continues, she may develop depression, fear and anxiety,’’ she said.
Ijarogbe said that girl-child should be well groomed in such a way that she would feel equal to the male counterpart.
According to her, women should be empowered so that they can be less dependent on their counterparts, and as such, violence will be reduced.
In his remark, the ARD President, Dr Olusegun Akinwotu, said that eradicating violence against women would reduce the prevalence of mental disorders by 50 per cent.
