By Landing Colley
National Assembly select committee on health and women on Wednesday deliberated on the draft amendment bill on sexual offense.
The draft bill was presented by Justice minister who moves to seek amendment on sexual offences act of indecent action in order to put laws that are not captured, as victim of sexual violation are sometimes subjected to sexual attract.
Speaking during the presentation of the bill Ousman Silllah, chairperson of the community said: “since the enactment of women act 2010 significant sign have been made to enforce the law and to protect the women in line with the provision of the act.”
He said Section 25 of the women act recognizes the need for periodic review of legislation every 10 years to ensure further compliance with international obligation as a country.
“As we approach the first 10 years after the enactment of the women act the bill is intended to further review all law that are discrimination against women,” he added.
According to him going through it there are some proposal amendments that deal with the public service, higher education, justice, tourism, health etc.
UNFPA representative Kunle Adeniyi said the bill that seeks to amend and repeal discriminating law against women stand very significant.
“If the idea is to repeal discriminating law then we must look at the women act as the discriminating law against the women is exist in various legislation act saying progressive law also needed to be include,” he said.
“For this to be effective and be mplemented, we need to look at our laws including the criminal court”, he added.
Sandra Lattouf representative of United Nation International Children Emergency Fund( UNICEF)f said “the recommendation for consideration is sexual offense is not focusing on girls as we related to some part of the document to both boys and girls, but not systematic for all act why need for amendment.”
“We notify the issue that in some part of the document we have specific sentence, but not system for the entire document related to 6eand 6g of the draft for consideration,” she added.
Nonetheless the community members on continuation of draft amendment of women, sexual offenses Bill 2019 adjourned the consultation as some of the institutions claim to receive the letter lately.
