Gender-based violence, child abandonment and other forms of human rights violations remain widespread in Ondo State, despite ongoing interventions and public sensitisation, the State Coordinator of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Mr. Sunday Oyewole, has said.

Oyewole, who spoke in an interview to mark the 2025 International Human Rights Day, said the Commission continues to receive disturbing cases of domestic violence, sexual abuse of minors, child neglect and harmful cultural practices, stressing that protecting human rights is a collective responsibility that requires the active involvement of individuals, families, institutions and the state.

According to him, cases of women being assaulted by their spouses, fathers abandoning their parental responsibilities, and children being exposed to abuse remain common across the state.

“Gender-based violence is rampant. Child abandonment is also rampant. We receive complaints daily from women who are beaten by their husbands and children whose fathers refuse to take responsibility for them. These are serious human rights violations,” Oyewole said.

He noted that International Human Rights Day, celebrated annually on December 10, is a reminder of the need to protect the dignity and rights of every citizen, particularly vulnerable groups such as women, children and persons living in difficult conditions.

“This year’s activities started from November 25 with the 16 Days of Activism and ended on December 10. It is about awareness — letting people know their rights and encouraging them to speak out when those rights are violated,” he explained.

Awareness Campaigns Across Communities

Oyewole said the NHRC marked the day in Ondo State with extensive sensitisation programmes across different segments of society. These included visits to religious institutions, schools, traditional rulers, market women and youth groups.

He explained that particular attention was paid to emerging issues such as digital violence, cyberbullying and online extortion, which he described as a growing trend in human rights abuse.

“Violence has gone digital. People now use social media to infringe on the rights of others. We also visited secondary schools to address bullying and to catch them young, because bullying among students is increasing,” he said.

The Commission also engaged traditional institutions and market women to educate them on their rights and the appropriate channels for reporting violations.

Harmful Cultural Practices, Sexual Violence Identified

Beyond awareness campaigns, the NHRC identified harmful cultural practices, including dehumanising widowhood rites, as persistent challenges affecting women in the state.

Oyewole also raised concern over reported cases of rape, incest and sexual abuse of minors, describing them as “absurd, ungodly and unacceptable.”

“We have had cases of fathers and stepfathers having carnal knowledge of their daughters or stepdaughters. These are grave violations. Although the trend is reducing gradually, it is still a serious concern,” he said.

Interventions and Case Handling

The NHRC boss highlighted several interventions carried out by the Commission, including cases of unlawful arrest and detention, domestic violence, child neglect and youth-related drug abuse.

He cited a case where the Commission intervened to secure the release of a man unlawfully detained by the police following a dispute over the age of a pregnant girlfriend, as well as cases involving women unjustly detained and victims of police extortion.

Oyewole also recounted a recent case of a university student whose father stopped paying his school fees at an advanced level, and another involving a minor who gave birth without proper care, which was resolved through collaboration with the Ministry of Women’s Affairs.

“Our services are completely free. We don’t charge a dime. In some cases, we even assist vulnerable persons with transportation or other basic support,” he said.

Enforcement, Not Laws, Is the Challenge

Oyewole identified weak enforcement as a major obstacle to addressing human rights violations, despite the existence of laws such as the Child Rights Law and the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law.

“The problem is not the absence of laws, but enforcement. If these laws were properly enforced and offenders punished, gender-based violence would reduce drastically,” he said.

He also linked women’s vulnerability to economic dependence, noting that many abused women return to violent homes due to lack of income and fear of social stigma.

“Empowering women economically is key. If women can stand on their own, many will not remain in abusive relationships,” he added.

Individual Responsibility Emphasised

On the role of individuals, Oyewole stressed that everyone has a duty to protect human rights by speaking out and reporting abuses.

“If your neighbour is being assaulted, it is your duty to report it. People are dying in silence. We must be our brother’s keeper,” he said.

He called on religious leaders to stop covering up criminal acts such as rape and domestic violence, insisting that such cases should be reported to law enforcement agencies rather than settled privately.

Parents were also cautioned against child labour, street hawking and handing over children to external caregivers, practices he said expose children to abuse and exploitation.

Call to Speak Out

Oyewole urged residents of Ondo State to utilise the Commission’s complaint channels, reiterating that silence only empowers violators.

“Above all, speak out. Stop dying in silence,” he said.

He provided the NHRC Ondo State office contact details as 09054009027, email: nhrcondo@gmail.com, and office address at Plot 35, Alagbaka GRA, near the Central Bank, Akure.