Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, has called for stronger legal protection and improved access to justice for women and children in Nigeria amid emerging social and technological challenges.
Bamidele stating at the International Federation of Women Lawyers, FIDA, Ekiti State Chapter, held under the theme, “Justice in a Changing World: Responding to New Challenges Affecting Women and Children.”
He identified domestic violence, discrimination, cyberbullying, online harassment and sexual exploitation as growing threats requiring urgent attention from government and relevant institutions.
The Senate Leader also expressed concern over the non-consensual sharing of intimate images and the exposure of children to online predators, stressing the need for stronger measures to address technology-driven abuse.
He maintained that justice must not remain limited to constitutional provisions and legal frameworks but must be accessible, affordable and effective, particularly for victims of abuse and discrimination.
Bamidele called for greater collaboration among the National Assembly, state legislatures, the judiciary, law enforcement agencies and social welfare institutions to strengthen the implementation of laws protecting vulnerable groups.
He also highlighted the Special Seats Bill as part of efforts to improve women’s representation in governance, urging FIDA to sustain its engagement with lawmakers and advocate reforms that address existing gaps in legislation.
The lawmaker further stressed the need for adequate funding of programmes addressing women’s health and child protection, while describing the protection of women and children as a collective responsibility involving families, communities and government institutions.
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Earlier, the Chairperson of FIDA in Ekiti State, Ayobami Olowoyo-Richards, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to protecting the rights of women and children through legal representation, advocacy, public enlightenment and strategic partnerships.
She expressed optimism that discussions at the Law Week would generate practical recommendations for improving access to justice and strengthening the protection of vulnerable groups.
Also speaking, a member of the House of Representatives representing Ado/Irepodun-Ifelodun Federal Constituency, Steve Fatoba, urged legal practitioners to adopt a human-centred approach to the interpretation and application of the law.
Fatoba described the theme as timely and called on lawyers to ensure that justice remains responsive to the needs of women, children and other vulnerable members of society.
