Steven wants Govt to address GBV urgently

ESA’ALA MP Davis Steven says that the Government has to address gender-based violence (GBV) with the same urgency and attention it is giving to the Coronavirus (Covid-19).
“When the pandemic hit the country, the Government provided funding. Likewise, the Government must provide funding for the recommendations made in the Gender-based Violence report,” he said.
Steven said this on Thursday during grievance debate after the tabling of the parliamentary report on GBV.
“Gender-based violence must be seen as evil,” he said.
“We must come to a point as a nation and treat it as a national crisis.
“In 2013, this Parliament passed the Family Protection Act.
“We must react to these recommendations from the GBV report.
“When the (Covid-19) pandemic came in, it was elevated as a health issues.
“We reacted accordingly because our people’s health was at risk.
“As a responsible Government, we must necessarily take immediate and strong action.”
Steven said the Government needed to take heed of the recommendations in the GBV report and fund efforts to train and equip law enforcement personnel to deal effectively with victims.
He said establishing and funding safe houses for victims and children was important.