Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State has recommended minimum sentence of 25 years for rapists, saying rape should not be met with light sentencing.
“It is highly recommended. We need new laws which will respond adequately to the nature and occurrences of this era.
“Domestic violence is a crime and should be treated as such. The Protection against Domestic Violence Law, 2007 should, therefore, be amended accordingly,” he said.
“As the saying goes, the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago; the next best time is now.
“ We firmly believe that the actions we take today will be the seeds sown for a brighter future for our women and indeed, our children.
“We believe our state can continue to pioneer in this agenda and become a benchmark not just in Nigeria, but globally,” he said.
“We need to ask ourselves the hard question: for this course we honour today, how can we truly ensure we are walking the talk?
“In our state, there has been a significant increase in formal and informal reporting of domestic and sexual violence cases, but contrary to what it appears to be, this menace is not a recent development.
“These occurrences have been around for years, but they were seen as norms because nobody spoke out against them, and such acts were overlooked based on misguided definitions of gender roles.
“What we are tackling today is an almost innate culture which relegates women to the background, and forces them to suffer in silence.
“In Lagos, we are waging a war against this culture and we will do everything within our power to transform ours to a culture of equality, respect and dignity for all.
“It is a journey of radical transformation, and our government is wholly committed to seeing it through,” he said.
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