Gender Dialogue: Generation loses its voice when Child is molested, Woman is silenced –Commissioner Declares
By: Lauretta Fagbohun, Abeokuta.
The Ogun State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development declared that “a generation loses its voice when a child is molested and a woman is silenced.” The statement, delivered during a high-level Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Dialogue in Abeokuta, laid bare the far-reaching consequences of injustice, systemic failure, and societal silence.
Speaking to an audience that included lawmakers, judiciary officials, civil society groups, and international partners, the Commissioner described the event not as another routine gathering, but as a “strategic battleground” against ignorance, injustice, and indifference.
“Thank you for showing up not just in body, but in conscience,” she told attendees, emphasizing the collective responsibility to combat GBV, child abuse, and the discrimination faced by persons with disabilities.
On behalf of the Ogun State Government, the Commissioner expressed gratitude to the World Bank for its continuous support through the OGSTEP GBV Reform Grant, and applauded the Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC) for their critical role in advancing the dialogue. She also commended the Ogun State House of Assembly and the Judiciary for fostering inclusive governance and for their openness to tackling sensitive gender issues.
Describing gender-based violence as a “silent pandemic,” the Commissioner highlighted its social, economic, and public health implications. “The real perpetrators don’t carry placards,” she cautioned. “They hide behind our silence, our inaction, and the loopholes in our systems.”
She called for a decisive shift from tolerance to zero tolerance of GBV, asserting that “a law not enforced is just a well-written wish.”
Turning to policy reforms, the Commissioner outlined several key legislative instruments currently in motion, including the Gender Mainstreaming Bill, the FRILIA Bill, the VAPP Law, and the proposed Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Commission Bill. She explained that the DEI Bill, which contains 45 robust sections, aims to institutionalize fairness, prevent discrimination, and ensure inclusive representation in governance.
Applauding the Ogun State House of Assembly for its commitment, she hailed the First Reading of the DEI Bill as a significant milestone. She acknowledged the leadership of the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Elemide Oludaisi Olusegun; the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Bolanle Lateefat Ajayi; Chief Whip and Women Affairs Committee Chair, Alhaja Bakare Olanrewaju; the Clerk, Mr. Adebakin Aremu; and Barr. Funmi Adeyemi for their dedication to social justice and inclusive policy.
In a poignant closing, the Commissioner invoked a local proverb: “If you keep mopping the floor without fixing the leaking roof, the water will keep returning.” She urged all stakeholders to focus on root causes, strengthen survivor support systems, and dismantle the environments that enable abuse and silence.
Reaffirming her Ministry’s commitment, she pledged to remain the bridge between “intention and action, between policy and people, between pain and healing.”
“No child must lose their innocence, no woman her dignity, and no family should be broken by indifference”.
