By: Valentine Adese (JP),
The Town Hall Engagement Campaign organized by Women’s Rights Advancement And Protection Alternative (WRAPA) in Bassa Local Government Council (LGC) of Plateau State, for the prevention, accountability for, Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) and the effective implementation of the Model Laws in Plateau State has been commended by participants.
According to the participants: The Police, Traditional Rulers, Civil Society Organizations (CSO), Rights Organizations, Leaders of Culture and Faith and the Media, the Town Hall Engagement is more an eye opener, as it enables participants to have more insight into the issues of domestic violence, the status of existing Laws and the need to create strategies in the prevention of VAWG in the implementation of the Model Laws in Plateau State, Nigeria.
According to the Police Boss in the Local Government, the need to create a desk at the Police station to deal with issues relating to VAWG and the Model Laws has become imperative and very necessary. Adding that, henceforth, violators of the Model Laws would be prosecuted according to the provisions of the Law.
On their part, the Traditional Rulers, led by HRH, Sariki Danladi Kasuwa, the Aima Grum-Nish-Hi in Bassa LGA, have taken a decision to formulate strategies to address issues captured in the Model Laws, especially, the need to include women and girls in the sharing of inheritance.
For the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and the Media Practitioners present, the need to have a new strategy to make victims speak out on violation would be more in focus, just as the need to protect and get justice for them.
On the part of the Leaders of Faith present, the need to take the campaign deeper into the grass roots of the Local Government is very important, as most untold stories of violation are domiciled there.
For the JNI in Jos North, represented by Bashir Salis and the representative of CAN in Bassa, the need to carry the message and education of the provisions of the Model Laws to the grass roots is important because, the people at that level may not have gotten any idea of what the Law is and the punishments of violations therein.
Earlier, the State Coordinator of WRAPA, Mrs. Jummai Madaki in her welcome speech had told the participants that, the objectives of the Town Hall Engagement, include, facilitating a community-led town hall engagement, demanding the prevention of and accountability for VAWG and the effective implementation of the Model Laws in Plateau State, to establish the number of women and girls, who have access to support services, such as, legal aids, medical assistance, financial assistance, shelter and other assistance, to validate the number of Women Rights Organizations, whose capabilities have been built on their rights and existing support services and to demand the implementation of innovative strategies or action and plans committed to by the leaders of Faith and Culture for the effective implementation of the model Laws in Plateau state.
The high points of the Town Hall Engagement, was the presentation of the status of the Model Laws in Plateau State, the offences covered, the penalties and the expected community punitive measures to be take to deter potential or existing perpetrators by Comrade Steve Aluko-Daniel and a drama to illustrate the issues.
It is of note that WRAPA is 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. The organization seeks to advance and protect the rights of women as provided by national laws, policies, regional, international treaties and agreements.
WRAPA is supported by the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) to implement a two-year project titled “Legal and Social Empowerment Program on Women’s Rights in Kaduna and Plateau States”. This project seeks to achieve the effective implementation of the Model Laws in Plateau State, which seeks to eliminate gender-based violence against women and girls and promote equal opportunities for beneficiaries of the project intervention (Women and Girls).
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