THE Ekiti State Ministry of Justice has initiated public naming and shaming of sex offenders in a bid to curb the frequency of rape and sexual harassment in the state, and an Anglican priest is the first casualty.
On Twitter, Kayode Fayemi, Governor of the state under the #SayNotoRape joined other Nigerians as he ‘named and shamed’ a sex offender, one Reverend Asateru Gabriel of the Anglican Church Ifisin-Ekiti, presently serving a five years prison term for sexual exploitation of a seven-year-old girl.
“In response to the frequency of reported cases of gender-based violence and sexual abuse, the Government of Ekiti State has begun the publication of the names and photographs of convicted sex offenders in the state,” published the state on its website.
https://twitter.com/kfayemi/status/1162345277640105987?s=20
The Ministry of Justice also revealed a five-step shaming and naming strategy which it would deploy as measures to curb child defilement and rape in the state.
- Pasting photographs of convicted sex offenders in prominent public places in their communities and local government headquarters.
iii. Issuing an advisory to the traditional ruler of the sex offender’s community on the status of the offender;
iv. Uploading the Sex Offenders photograph on the website of the Ministry of Justice @ekiti_MOjustice;
— Government of Ekiti State (@ekitistategov) August 16, 2019
- Public notification of the status of convicted sex offenders by showing their photographs on Ekiti State Broadcasting Ser5vice and announcing their name and status on radio stations in the state.
issuing an advisory to the traditional ruler of the sex offender’s community on the status of the offender.
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Uploading the sex offenders photograph to the website of the Ministry of Justice
Compulsory psychiatric test for all persons of who the Director of Public Persecution (DPP) has issued a case to answer legal opinion for the offence of child defilement.”
Since the announcement, Nigerians have hailed the move of the governor and the justice department on the new strategy as some believe that the public shaming will indeed discourage perpetrators.