WorldStage Newsonline– A coalition of Non-governmental organisation (NGO), has called for Domestication of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act of 2015 and the Child Rights Act of 2003 in all states of the federation; saying 21 states yet to adopt the VAPP Act.
The coalition, a movement for State of Emergency GVB in Nigeria advocating for urgent actions to halt the scourge of sexual and gender-based violence, in a joint media briefing by their Executive Directors, TechHer NG, working with Invictus Africa; Connected Development (CODE); Enough is Enough Nigeria; Stand To End Rape Initiative; Silver Chip Fox; Yiaga Africa; Dorothy Njemanze Foundation; Women Advocates Research & Documentation Centre and Education as a Vaccine.
The group also demanded for an establishment of Sexual Assault Referral Centers (SARCs) in every state, backed with a coordinated, sustainably-funded support system; Criminalization and prompt state-led prosecution of SGBV cases within a reasonable time, regardless of requests or interference by the victim’s family or interested parties.
It further sought for a specialized courts for sexual offences which will be the best way forward in each state and the Implementation of functional Family Support Units and Force Gender Units of the Nigeria Police Force, well equipped to address GBV cases at the state level and the Imposition of public disciplinary measures against officials of the Nigerian Police Force and state prosecutors that mishandle cases of SGBV.
It said, “The VAPP Act (2015) is an improvement on the penal and criminal code in relation to domestic and gender-based violence. It applies to violence in private and public spaces. The VAPP Act expands definitions of violence to include acts against men and boys, and also provides protection for victims/survivors of violence and punishment for offenders.
“The VAPP also provides a more holistic definition of rape. As of today, 14 states have adopted the VAPP Act. The states are Anambra, Benue, Cross River, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Kaduna, Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Oyo, Plateau; with original application in FCT. 21 states are yet to adopt the VAPP Act.
“The Child Rights Act (2003), on the other hand, provides protection for every Nigerian child against any form of abuse, including child labour, early marriage, and access to a free and safe education. Today, the following states have adopted the CRA – Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Benue, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Imo, Kaduna, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, and Taraba. Sadly, 17 years on, 11 states are yet to adopt the CRA – Bauchi, Yobe, Kano, Sokoto, Adamawa, Borno, Zamfara, Gombe, Katsina, Kebbi, and Jigawa states.
“We welcome with delight, Akwa Ibom and Bauchi States, which recently adopted the VAPP Act in June and July, respectively. We stand in solidarity with Jigawa and Kebbi States where the state Governors sent the VAPP to their state Houses of Assembly as Executive Bills. Gombe, Imo and a number of other states are at varying stages of deliberations on adopting the VAPP Act.
“We salute civil society organisations across the country who continue to engage with government at all levels; we implore you to continue in your efforts to end violence against all women and girls”.
