By TIMOTHY AGBOR

A non-governmental organisation, Assist Women and Develop Children Initiative (AWODECI) has urged parents to give their wards sound moral teachings that would enable them to escape falling victims of Sexual and Gender Based Violence.

The Executive Director of AWODECI, Mrs Ogunniyi Jadesola, gave this urge while addressing the clerics and entire congregation of Christ Apostolic Church Latona, Osogbo, capital of Osun State on Sunday, December 3, 2023 on the dangers of SGBV and how parents and children can collaborate to avoid falling prey to violators.

Mrs Jadesola said the awareness was part of the activities of the organisation in marking this year's 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence.

According to her, the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is an annual international campaign that kicked off on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs until 10 December, which is Human Rights Day.
She said this year’s theme is “Unite, Invest to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls,” and called on the Christians to always monitor their wards, create time for them and give them home training and sound moral knowledge that would enable them resist occasions that may make them wayward.

Mrs Jadesola noted that part of ways Christians can invest and unite in fighting and eliminating SGBV against women and girls is to become campaigners against gender based violence anywhere they find themselves.

She said her organisation has been moving about and meeting with government and other stakeholders to sensitise them on their roles in ensuring total elimination of violence,adding that AWODECI saw it necessary to visit the church and create awareness on the dangers of SGBV.
The Executive Director appealed to parents to dwell more in the words of God, teach their children the ways of God, give them sound and moral upbringing and create time for them.

She informed the congregation who applauded her after her presentation that there is Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law that has been designed for SGBV cases and urged them to do everything in their power not to be involved in any form of violence.