Fayemi To Assent To Law Compulsory Treatment And Care For Child Victims of Sexual Violence Bill,— Ekiti AG., Olawale Fapohunda

The Attorney General of Ekiti State and Commissioner for Justice, Olawale Fapohunda has disclosed the decision of the Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode to swiftly assent to law providing Compulsory Treatment and Care for Child Victims of Sexual Violence Bill, 2020 recently passed by the Ekiti State House of Assembly on 2nd day of July, 2020.

This is contained in a statement issued by the Ekiti State Ministry of Justice which was made available to TheNigeriaLawyer(TNL), noting that the Law would go a long way to sustain the Zero Tolerance for Sexual Violence Against Children policy of the Fayemi led administration.

The Ekiti State House of Assembly at its sitting on 2nd July 2020 in Ado Ekiti passed a landmark Bill that provides for the compulsory medical treatment of child victims of rape.

The bill titled Compulsory Treatment and Care for Child Victims of Sexual Violence Bill, 2020.’ makes it compulsory for every hospital in Ekiti State whether public or private to accept for adequate treatment, any child who is a victim of sexual violence.

The Bill was passed against the background of increasing cases of rape and child defilement in the State.

Olawale Fapohunda welcoming the prompt enactment of the Compulsory Treatment and Care of Child Victims of Sexual Violence Bill, said, importantly, the Bill provides a legal framework compelling all hospitals in Ekiti State, public; private to provide adequate and prompt treatment for any child who has been sexually assaulted and to swiftly bring it to the notice of the Police amongst others.

“This is in furtherance of the Fayemi Administration’s Zero Tolerance Policy for Sexual Violence Against Children.

“The Ministry of Justice will continue to propose laws, policies and administrative interventions to achieve the effective prosecution of sex offenders especially those who prey on children,  while at the same time ensuring that we respond compassionately to the needs of victims of sexual violence,” he said

Fapohunda also stated that ‘by this Law we are giving hospitals the legal protection they need to promptly report to the Police, cases of any child victim of sexual violence who come into their facilities for treatment. We hope that the sanctions provisions of this Law will not be necessary because we expect full cooperation from hospitals’

“By this Legislation, Ekiti State becomes the first State in Nigeria to enact a Legislation that specifically enforces compulsory medical treatment for child victims of sexual violence.

“Ekiti State had previously opened a register for sex offenders to capture the identities of persons convicted of rape, child defilement and sexual assault in the state.

“The State has also on several occasions’ named and shamed sex offenders by publishing their pictures on government social media platforms.

“The Ekiti State Governor, Dr. John Kayode Fayemi  is expected to sign the Bill into Law on Friday the 5th June 2020,” he added.