By Celestine Okafor (Editor-in-chief) @CelestineOkaf11
A frontline Civil Society Organization and vocal Gender Rights Advocates based in Imo state, OSAI FOUNDATION, on Friday, held a major stakeholders and media engagement workshop on the urgent need to implement the Violence Against Persons, (Prohibition) VAPP Law in Imo state, South East Nigeria.
The four hours workshop event which was held at the Grand Amari Hotel & Resort, Owerri, the Imo State capital on Friday March 24, 2023, was however widely attended by invited participants, both physically and virtually (Zoom), from across the country, including Abuja.
It had, in attendance, major stakeholders in the security, anti-crime, narcotics and violence prevention segments, etc, of Nigeria. The event was also graced and adequately covered by media executives and news reporters from both the print, broadcast and the online media in the country.
According to the event organiser and Founder/ Executive Director of OSAI Foundation (OSAIF), Mrs Ogechi Ike, the aim of the meeting/media workshop was to enable the stakeholders, especially in Imo state and the media, set up committees on the implementation of VAPP Law in Imo state which passed into an Act by the Imo State House of Assembly on July 17, 2021 and was assented into law on December 17, 2021, by the Imo State governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma.
The OSAI Foundation boss however explained to the workshop attendees that the "Violence Against Person’s Prohibition (VAPP) law seeks to eliminate violence in private and public life, prohibit all forms of violence against persons, provides maximum protection and effective remedies for victims and punishment of offenders".
She stated that the law which was okayed into law in May 25, 2015 by former President Goodluck Jonathan, prohibits female circumcision or genital mutilation, forceful ejection from home and harmful traditional widowhood practices, rape, amongst other similar offences.
"The 36 states including the FCT are expected to domesticate the law. Currently, VAPP law has been passed in 34 states of Nigeria including the FCT. In Imo state, VAPP law was assented into law by His Excellency Sen. Hope Uzodinma in December 15, 2021. This event took place after several public hearings. It took the relentless efforts of the Imo State Committee on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (ISCEVAWG) including Ministry of Women Affairs and Vulnerable groups and many other relevant stakeholders -religious groups, traditional rulers, Youth leaders and the consistent and persistent unalloyed support of the civil society groups, for the law to sail through into law".
OSAIF founder, Ogechi Ike, also explained to the participants that, "During the COVID-19 pandemic Lockdown, to check the spread of the pandemic and protect the citizens, the state recorded an upsurge on gender-based violence (GBV) ranging from domestic, sexual gender based including incest, rape, homicides and all forms of abuse and assault. Hence, the need to have the VAPP law in place as an incredible piece of regulations for Imolites. Not only does it prohibit multiple forms of SGBV, it also appends punishment for offenders, accomplices and anyone caught in an attempt".
She stated that the next option in this respect, is for the civil society groups, ISCEVAWG have taken it as a duty to sustain strategic advocacy on the need to set up of VAPP implementation committee, to ensure that implementation kicks off with several workable policies on ground to make it effective. She no success, however, have been recorded yet.
Ogechi Ike continued: "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".
She stated than 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,” he stated.
The OSAI Foundation Executive Director stressed that, "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 revealed that the stakeholders and media conclave held on Friday in Owerri, Imo State, was "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. This is to curb all forms of violence and set the economy on the path of growth and development whilst maintaining law and order in the state".
Ogechi who is a feminist and renowned civil rights agitator, however, quips that "Justice delayed could also result to justice denied. When there is no justice, there will be no peace"
As the four and a half hours workshop came to successful close, the OSAIF Director thanked thanked the participant stakeholders and partners, especially the Youth Alive Foundation (YAF), for their partnership in SAVE project supported by Commonwealth.
The Ogechi and Sam Ike Foundation (OSAIF) was established with a mission to provide assistance in the educational, social, economic and political development of all citizens especially interest groups-women/girls and youth, including persons with disabilities (PWDs) through education, empowerment and equipping them through capacity building activities, training, information services, strategic advocacy, sensitization and conflict resolutions etc.
The vision of the Imo State based charity organization is to ensure a better society devoid of injustice against ALL, especially on women, youth, girls’ and children and totally inclusive. NNL.
