A non-governmental organisation, Mediation Conciliation and Human Right Center, MCHRC, has enjoined Oyo State government to open a public register for those guilty of sexual abuse of children.
The founder of the group, Kehinde Akinyemi, made the call while addressing journalists at a press conference organised in conjunction with some other groups including Child Growth Concern Initiative, CGCI; Sola Olagunju Foundation, SOF; Kola Daisi Foundation, KDF; Child Protection Network, CPN; Mother and Girl Child Protection Initiative, MAGI; Child Abuse Prevention Initiative, CAPI.
Akinyemi who lamented the rate of out of school children put at about 400,000 in the state, maintained that opening of the register would serve as a deferent to other people who might have the intention of abusing girl child sexually.
While stating that Ekiti State had taken a bold step by opening the register for offenders, he urged the state government to borrow a leave in order to serve as deterrent to others.
Said Akinyemi: “We want the government to support our call for opening of Public Register for Child Sexual Abuse Offenders. This register will be in the custody of the Ministry of Justice; we have a case where a pastor has been sentenced in Ekiti State. The picture of the pastor is everywhere. We want this kind of register in Oyo State. This will serve as deferent to others.
“In view of the above, we humbly and graciously solicit the kind humanitarian support from His Excellency Engineer Seyi Makinde in the following areas: To support our call for the establishment and full operation of Family Court in Oyo State; to support our call for full implementation of Child Right Law in Oyo State; to get involved in the establishment of Girl Child Support and Rapid Response Centre for Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse in the State; to support our call for opening of Public Register for Offenders of Child Sexual Abuse and to support our call for recommendation of Capital Punishment for Offenders to serve as deterrent to intending perpetrators.
“To support our call for participation of CGCI and MCHRC in the state government efforts to reform, rehabilitate and reintegrate the 400,000 out of school children in Oyo State.”
