Stand To End Rape (STER) Initiative, an NGO has called for the full implementation of the Violence Against Persons and Prohibition (VAPP) law to check rising cases of Gender Based Violence (GBV) in Plateau.
Mr. Hussein Muhammed, STER Programme Officer, made the call on Wednesday in Jos at the opening of a two-day workshop on successful implementation of VAPP law in the state.
Mohammed said that even though the VAPP bill was passed into law by the Plateau State House of Assembly in 2022, the state governor was yet to assent to the law.
The programme officer stated that Plateau was ranked 15 among the 36 states in the implementation of the law that was first passed by the National Assembly in 2015.
He pointed out that effective domestication and implementation of the law would drastically reduce sexual violence as well as punish the offenders.
“Last year we carried out research in 32 states in Nigeria known as a scorecard project to find out the states that enacted the VAPP Act law.
“We discovered that so many states have not domesticated the law while those that have domesticated the law were not enforcing it.
“We are here to create a coalition of stakeholders in Plateau to champion efforts towards the successful implementation of the VAPP law in the state.
“To sensitise the coalition of stakeholders (state and non-state actors) on the provisions of VAPP law in relation to the eradication of sexual violence against women and girls in Plateau,’’ he said.
Mohammed listed the stakeholders involved in the domestication and enforcement of the law to include Ministry of Justice, Office of the First Lady, the Human Right Commission, National Orientation Agency among others.
Mr. Philemon Dafi, Plateau Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, said that many offenders have been prosecuted for sexual and gender-based violence in line with the VAPP law.
Dafi, who was represented by Mr. Ibrahim Salleh, said that the ministry was working in collaboration with the police, women affairs and other relevant agencies to sensitise the public on GBV.
The commissioner stated that evidences were needed to prosecute perpetrators of gender-based violence particularly rape and defilement of minors.
He urged victims to immediately report cases to security agencies and ensure that they preserve the evidences to enable them get justice speedily.
Dr. Samuel Ogwuche, Senior Research Fellow, National Institute for Legislative Democratic Studies Abuja, a facilitator spoke on the challenges of GBV especially in Plateau.
“We are critically looking at the Plateau VAPP Law 2022. We are looking at the offenses contained therein and the penalties.
“This event will take the stakeholders through the rudiments of the law. It is to sensitise stakeholders who are instrumental to the effective implementation of the law,’’ he added.
Ogwuche said that there was urgent need for all stakeholders to unite to tackle the menace of rape, which had taken a dangerous dimension where parents violate their children.
Mrs Victoria Ameh, Gender Desk Officer, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Plateau Command, said that her office in collaboration with the legal department had handled some gender based violence cases.
Ameh said that the NSCDC was ever ready to protect lives and properties including tacking care of GBV cases to ensure that survivors get justice. (NAN)
