By: Valentine Adese (JP),
Plateau State Government, led by Governor Simon Bako Lalong has been commended, for making laws that would help curb Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) and Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Laws in the state.
A registered Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), Non-political and Non-profit making charitable organization, with a mandate for the promotion, protection and realization of women’s human rights, the elimination of all forms of repugnant practices and VAWG, with the aim of enhancing their living standards, Women’s Right Advancement And Protection Alternative (WRAPA) in a press statement yesterday, while commending Governor Lalong and the state stated that, “The assent and signing into Law of the VAPP Act by Plateau State Executive Governor, H.E. Dr. Simon Bako Lalong, comes as a fulfillment of the work of WRAPA and the hopes of women and girls in Plateau State. It is also a strong testimony that with the right dosage of political will and commitment, change is achievable supported by stakeholder’s cooperation, as demonstrated by the support from the Hon. Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline K. Tallen OFR”.
WRAPA, which also seeks to advance and protect the rights of women as provided by national laws, policies, regional, international treaties and agreements, in its statement also agrees that Plateau state government is set to curb Violence Against Women and Girls and Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (VAPP) as the administration Signs the Bills into Law.
In an on-the-spot interview with Madam Jummai Madaki, (the Plateau State Coordinator of WRAPA), and Mohammed Maifada, they both explained that, in the last ten years (2012 to 2022), WRAPA has implemented three projects in many states particularly, Plateau State, seeking for the domestication and implementation of the Gender Equal Opportunity Bill GEOB) and the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Bill.
According to them also, Oxfam supported the earliest efforts by WRAPA under the Raising Her Voice Project, collaborating with the National Action Coalition (NCAA). Plateau State, was able to pass the GEOB into Law, as one of the front line states in response to advocacy and relevant stakeholders’ engagements. Next were the Haki and its successor projects supported by the Solidarity for African Women’s Right (SOAWR) and Quality Now. WRAPA implemented these two projects continuing the advocacy for the passage of VAPP Bill and the implementation of GEOB Act.
Adding that, “With the support from the African Women Development Fund (AWDF), these agitations and advocacy engagements have been sustained seeking the passage of the VAPP Bill and the implementation of the GEOB Act”.
Madam Jummai further disclosed that, as at yesterday, WRAPA was holding a Social and Legislative Advocacy meeting with key state actors, for the implementation of the model laws.
“We are looking at how the VAPP law can be implemented, the strategies for effective take-off of the GEO laws”. She said.
In another development, a Coalition of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Plateau State, in a Press Conference, chaired by Gad Shamaki, and flanked by Comr. Steve Aluko Daniel and others, made up of a wide range of Development Practitioners including, Gender activists, Human Rights monitors and Seasoned Journalists among others, while addressing emerging socio-political, economic and humanitarian issues that cut across board in the country took time to also commend the Plateau State Governor and his administration for signing VAPP and GEO Bills into Laws.
The Chairman of the Coalition, Gad Shamaki, in his words said, “The Coalition is elated and immensely grateful to the Executive Governor of Plateau State, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong, for assenting to the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act 2022.
“Members of the Coalition particularly convey their heartfelt gratitude to the Hon. Esther Dusu, Member representing Jos North West in the Plateau State House of Assembly and other members of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Chrisantus Ahmadu, Commissioner for Justice, Hon. Irmiya Werr, Commissioner of Special Duties, Hon Rebecca Sambo, Commissioner of Women Affairs and Hon. Dan Manjang, Commissioner of Information, for ensuring that expedient actions were taken that led to the assent of the VAPP Act.
“We also want to appreciate Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA) media organizations and every member of the CSOs for your support”.
While explaining the new Laws in part, the Coalition stated that, “The VAPP law in summary seeks to eliminate or reduce to the minimum the occurrences of Gender Based Violence in the State. It protects the rights of citizens against violence. It aims at addressing gaps in current laws in private and public spaces. Specifically, it is aimed at responding to old and emerging forms of Sexual Gender Based Violence.
“Some of the major acts of violence which the law prohibits are found in clauses 3 to 26 of the Act. An offence such as rape which upon conviction will attract the punishment of life imprisonment and a person who aids, abets or conceals an offender is liable to imprisonment for a minimum of 12 years.
“Forceful eviction of a marriage partner or refusal of access to his/her home commits an offence and is liable to imprisonment for a term of 2 years or a fine of N300, 000 or both.
“Anyone who incites aids or abets another to eject persons with disabilities or forceful ejection of widows by in-laws or relatives is liable to one year imprisonment or a fine of N200,000 or both.
“On abandonment of spouse, children and other dependants without any means of sustenance is liable to imprisonment to a term of 3 years or a fine of 500,000 or both.
“The law also prevents spousal/partner battery. Anyone who stalks another is liable to 2 years imprisonment or a fine of 500,000 or both”.
READ THE FULL TEXT OF THE COALITION BELOW:-
PRESS RELEASE, ON THE OCCASION OF THE PRESS CONFERENCE HELD ON WEDNESDAY 1ST JUNE 2022, AT CITY LODGE HOTEL No 9T Appollo Crescent, GRA, off State Secretariat Road Jos, Plateau State.
The Plateau state Coalition of Civil Society Organizations is a coalition made up of a wide range of Development Practitioners including Gender activists, Human Rights monitors and Seasoned Journalists among others. The group functions and meets to address emerging socio-political, economic and humanitarian issues that cut across board.
The Coalition is elated and immensely grateful to the Executive Governor of Plateau State, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong for assenting to the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act 2022
Members of the Coalition particularly convey their heartfelt gratitude to the Hon. Esther Dusu, Member representing Jos North West in the Plateau state house of Assembly and other members of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Chrisantus Ahmadu, Commissioner for Justice, Hon. Irmiya Werr, Commissioner of Special Duties, Hon Rebecca Sambo, Commissioner of Women Affairs and Hon Dan Manjang, Commissioner of Information for ensuring that expedient actions were taken that led to the assent of the VAPP Act. We also want to appreciate Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA) media organizations and every member of the CSOs for your support.
The VAPP law in summary seeks to eliminate or reduce to the minimum the occurrences of Gender Based Violence in the State. It protects the rights of citizens against violence. It aims at addressing gaps in current laws in private and public spaces. Specifically, it is aimed at responding to old and emerging forms of Sexual Gender Based Violence.
Some of the major acts of violence which the law prohibits are found in clauses 3 to 26 of the Act. An offence such as rape which upon conviction will attract the punishment of life imprisonment and a person who aids, abets or conceals an offender is liable to imprisonment for a minimum of 12 years.
Forceful eviction of a marriage partner or refusal of access to his/her home commits an offence and is liable to imprisonment for a term of 2 years or a fine of N300, 000 or both.
Anyone who incites aids or abets another to eject persons with disabilities or forceful ejection of widows by in-laws or relatives is liable to one year imprisonment or a fine of N200,000 or both.
On abandonment of spouse, children and other dependants without any means of sustenance is liable to imprisonment to a term of 3 years or a fine of 500,000 or both.
The law also prevents spousal/partner battery. Anyone who stalks another is liable to 2 years imprisonment or a fine of 500,000 or both.
We will use this opportunity to call on the Honourable Commissioner for Justice to please ensure a quick gazette of the VAPP law.
The coalition once more sincerely appreciates the Executive Governor of Plateau state for the giant stride taken in the right direction but like Oliver Twist we want to ask for more by further soliciting and advocating for the speedy establishment of the Gender and Equal Opportunities Commission which will ensure the implementation and monitoring of not just the Plateau Gender and Equal Opportunities Law but also the VAPP Act.
This will go a very long way in addressing the most serious issue most Nigerian laws are faced with, which is the issue of non-implementation.
Constituting the board of the Gender Commission swiftly will again portray an excellent image of the inclusive nature of His Excellency, Right Hon. Simon Bako Lalong administration. This will amplify his “He for She” nature and put him and his administration again in positive national and International limelight.
Thank you,
Gad Peter
Facilitator of the Plateau, CSOs Coalition.
No comments:
Post a Comment