By Chigozie Uzosike
March 28, (Newshour.com.ng) – A non governmental organization, Ogechi and Sam Ikeh Foundation (OSAIF) has called on the Imo state government and the relevant agencies to set up a committee that will spearhead the full implementation of the VAPP Law.
Speaking during a press conference and stakeholders discussion organised, the Executive Director, OSAIF, Ogechi Ikeh said that since the bill was assented into law in 2021, civil society groups and ISCEVAWG have taken it as a duty to sustain strategic advocacy on the need to set up VAPP implementation committee to ensure that implementation kicks off with several workable policies on ground to make it more effective, regretting that no success has been recorded.
She noted that Gender Based Violence (GBV) is prevalent, yet it is preventable and one of the many factors that will help ameliorate the situation is legal actions followed by punishment of perpetrators by law.
“Quite a number of cases have been reported but due to the fact that implementation plan has not commenced, cases are delayed, we understand the Nigerian judiciary system and would not want to jeopardize the survivors of violence safety seeing that protection order is not effective yet because the VAPP law implementation course is not operational yet, consequently, making them loose faith in the tireless efforts by well-meaning stakeholders”.
Ikeh revealed that in February 14, 2023, Bauchi State Government unveiled implementation of Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) law, Administration of Criminal Justice Law and Penal Code of the state, adding that speedy trial process won’t exceed 180 days. He quoted, “We now have elimination of delay. No matter how weighty an offence is, you must conclude it within 180 days. Also, we now have a limited number of adjournments, which is five. We do not want a situation where by these laws only exist in the bookshelves of the Ministry of Justice, as they could not be implemented after their assent”.
She said that there is a clarion call to Imo state government and its agencies, having assented VAPP law since December 2021, to take the next bold step to set up committee moving forward towards VAPP implementation. It has become imperative that the legal framework be backed by legal actions to achieve the essence of the objectives of passing bills into law, adding that it will curb all forms of violence and set the economy on the path of growth and development whilst maintaining law and order in the state.
She thanked the stakeholders and partners especially Youth Alive Foundation (YAF) for their partnership in SAVE project supported by Commonwealth.
Also speaking, the commander of NAPTIP, Mr Ernest Ogbu while speaking, said the government needs to provide adequate support to some relevant agencies in order to discharge their duties effectively. He stressed on providing shelter for victims of gender based violence and increase the manpower of service providers. He noted that the rights of victims should also be protected.
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