Foundation To Aide Implementation of Violence Against Persons Act
Rose of Sharon Foundation (RoSF), a private, non-profit, faith based, non-governmental organisation focused on easing the burdens of existence for widows and orphan, is poised to work in collaboration with various organisations and agencies including the states and Federal governments as well as private sector to ensure that the widows’ right as contained in the 2015 Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, recently passed into law by the House of Representatives and National Assembly on May 23rd”, is implemented in totality.
Addressing a press conference in Lagos on Tuesday on the Foundation’s plans to commemorate this year’s International Widows Day celebration billed to hold on June 23, the Founder, Mr. Folorunso Alakija, said the International Widow’s Day event falls within the RoSF Advocacy Programme (RAP), which will keep pushing, together with partners, to ensure that the Nigerian government and government of every nation builds a just society for widows in Nigeria and the world at large.
Alakija who lamented that there have been so many laws passed in Nigeria and yet never enforced, noted that her foundation is battleready, realizing that it has so much work to do especially as it concerns ensuring full implementation and enforcement of the recently passed bill. She therefore called on all stakeholders, law enforcement agencies, other NGOs and the media to join force with RoSF to draw attention to this need.
International Widows Day is ratified by the United Nations (UN) to address the poverty and injustice faced by millions of widows and their wards. Last year, RoSF took the lead by marking her first memorable International Women Day, ensuring that the marginalized group’s plight was brought to the centre stage and attention given to various issues they face in the society.
“Last years, we had a stakeholder’s forum where some practical actionable recommendations to end the discrimination and violent practices against widows were proffered, which we believe must have helped to facilitate the passage of the new bill into law by both the House of Representatives and National Assembly on May 23rd”, Alakija noted.
Plans to commemorate this years event include: Medical enlightenment campaign, free medical consultation and checks for widows and their children on Tuesday June 23 from 8.00am at the Rose of Sharon Foundation premises in Surulere Lagos. Ten medical doctors and health practitioners as volunteer will be available for the health check service.