Defence
STAKEHOLDERS have called on state governments to adopt and implement the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act, to stem rape, domestic violence and other vices in the country.
The stakeholders spoke at a workshop on VAPP Act, organised by an NGO, Brain Builders Youth Development Initiative (BBYD), on Monday in Osogbo.
They claimed that VAPP Act was only effective in Abuja, and urged other states to endeavour to implement same.
The stakeholders also recommended adequate sensitisation on the act, saying that the enforcement was generally weak across Nigeria.
They said they were yet to identify any successful prosecution of VAPP offences to date.
The BBYD Finance Officer, Mr Lukman Bello, in his remarks, said that the Bill, signed into law in 2015, was only applicable within the Federal Capital Territory.
He described the Act as Nigeria’s most comprehensive legislation and called on state governments to adopt it, to protect the women and girls in the society.
According to Bello, the law addresses issues such as rape, domestic offences, harmful tradition, compensation and effective remedies for victims.
Mrs Sadiat Oladapo, a representative of the Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN), identified inadequate provision for family or gender units in most police stations as a big challenge in tackling Gender-Based Violence (GBV).
Oladapo added that poverty and lack of adequate knowledge of VAPP Act was also a challenge hindering its implementation.
Mrs Olusayo Bello, from Osun Ministry of Women, Children and Social Affairs, said VAPP Act had been implemented in the state.
Bello, however, called on members of the public or any victim of gender-based violence to always report cases to the ministry.
Mr Okon Michael from the Osun Police Command, said the command had units catering for GBV victims.
Michael urged victims to always report to the police for appropriate action. (NAN)
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Tags: Lukman Bello Okon Michael Violence Against Persons Prohibition
