By Ojo Oluwafemi
The Nigerian Feminist Forum, (NFF) on Tuesday urged the Ondo state government to actively work with Civil Society Organizations (CSO’s)and relevant ministries in ensuring the domestication of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) bill.
Focal Person, Nigeria Feminist Forum, Chinonso Okechukwu made this known at a one day seminar on domestication of VAPP Bill in Akure.
Okechukwu urged the state government to ensure that the VAPP bill was all-encompassing, capturing in totality the needs of women and girls, as they are the most vulnerable.
She said that the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act was passed into law in May 2015 following agitations for protection of persons against the different forms of violence, both at the home front and in the larger society, which is now fast becoming a trend in the present day Nigeria.
Okechukwu pointed out that ‘ the Nigerian Feminist Forum in the past three months has actively engaged in strategic action plans to ensure the domestication of the VAPP ACT in states yet to do so, for better protection of women and girls against sexual and gender based violence.
According to him, ‘we hear of someone killing or maiming their spouse, spousal battery, a scorned lover pouring acid on an ex lover; or someone being forcefully taken away from their family and loved ones, cases of rape and defilement and so on.
“The Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act is an improvement on the penal and criminal code in relation to violence. It also makes provision for compensation to victims as well as the protection of their rights.
“The main thrust of the law is to eliminate violence in private and public life, prohibit all forms of violence against persons, and to provide maximum protection and effective remedies for victims as well as punishment for offenders.
“It is believed that this Act will bring succor and effective remedies to millions of victims who have suffered violence in one form or another in silence, without recourse to justice or rehabilitative, psychological or social support for their recovery and reintegration into the society.
“The Act does not only ensure that the violators are brought to justice, but also that the victims are adequately compensated, re-integrated into the society and given the necessary support and protection”.
She noted that NFF strategies include collaborating with key women-led and feminist organizations as well as strategic stakeholders who are key players towards the domestication of the VAPP ACT.
“Our aim is to collaborate with active partners to identify the state level in the VAPP Bill Domestication process as well as identify the gaps and ways of possible intervention and the way forward.
“Domesticating the VAPP Act in Ondo State and sensitising the public on the existence of a law aimed at protecting them whilst protecting their safety, will not only help curb violence against women and girls, but will also hold perpetrators accountable”, She said.
Okenchukuw therefore called on the Ondo state government to work with active CSO’s and relevant ministries to ensure that the VAPP bill is domesticated in the State, as well as ensure that the bill is robust enough and all-encompassing, capturing in totality the needs of women and girls, as they are the most vulnerable.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the consultative meeting was organised in partnership with Action Aid Nigeria and funding from Global Affairs Canada to discuss and formulate a strategic action plan towards ensuring better protection of women and girls against violence in Ondo State.