Mr. Femi Falana, human rights lawyer, has pointed out gaps in sections 1 and 8 of the Ekiti State Gender-based Violence Law, 2019. He has advocated an amendment to the law.
The lacuna was identified in Section one pertains to dress code while the vacancy in Section 8 is concerning the reference to the law as an Act.
Falana made a plea to the Assembly to thoroughly review the law, identify the gaps and put in place a motion for its amendment. This is in order to align with current global human rights standards in relation to gender and sexual rights.
The case was made known in a letter titled ‘Lacuna in the Ekiti State Gender-based Violence Law, 2019 and the Need for Amendment’. It was signed by Taiwo Omidoyin and addressed to Funminiyi Afuye, the Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly.
The letter stated that the provision of ‘imposition of dress codes under any guise’ as a component of gender-based violence is overstretched and overreaching, particularly the phrase ‘under any guise’.
He said, ‘Defining violence against women to include imposition of dress codes ‘under any guise’ is too extensive.’
Falana revealed that Section 45 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) provided for restrictions and derogations on matters of fundamental rights, said, ‘The freedom to dress freely to one’s taste and desire truly aligns with the right to personal liberty, right to freedom from discrimination, yet these rights are with limitations.’
Peace Omenka
Photo Credit: Femi Falana