NGO tasks state govts to adopt Violence Against Persons Act

BAOBAB for Women's Human Rights, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has called on state governments to show more urgency adopting the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act of 2015.

BAOBAB's Executive Director, Bunmi Dipo-Salami, made the call in Abuja on Friday, at an interactive session with the media to mark the 2021 International Human Rights Day.

Dipo-Salami said Gender-Based Violence (GBV) remained one of the world's most prevalent forms of human rights violation which government at all levels should be committed to fighting.

"As part of our call to action, we are advocating the full and immediate adoption of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (VAPP) of 2015 into law.

"Specifically, we are calling on governments of Lagos, Kano, Borno, Gombe, Yobe, Zamfara, Imo, Rivers, Kogi, Plateau, Cross River and Taraba to adopt the Act," she said.

The VAPP Act was signed in May 2015 to among others, prohibit female genital mutilation, forceful ejection from home and harmful widowhood practices.

The law also provided legislative and legal framework for the prevention of all forms of violence against vulnerable persons, especially women and children.

So far, 16 states have passed and adopted the law, while Lagos and Ekiti states previously had similar laws enforceable within the states.

There are still 18 states which have not adopted the law, including Bayelsa, Osun, Plateau, Rivers, Imo and Adamawa, where the law is awaiting the governors' signatures.

The executive director BAOBAB said the full adoption of the VAPP act would address some of the structural causes of gender-based violence, as well as the risk and protective factors associated with violence against women and children.

The celebration of the International Human Rights Day, which has as it's theme, "All Human, All Equal", is part the global 16 Days Activism against Gender-Based Violence.

Dipo-Salami said her organisation has been in the forefront of providing guidance on prevention of violence against women and girls.

"Women and girls are disproportionately affected by any form of violence and conflict. That is why we advocate laws that promote gender equality.

"We also partner with women organisations, build women's capacity and undertake research, as well as provide access to justice for at-risk women and girls," she said.

Deputy Executive Director of BOABAB, Annie Adindu-Lawal, said the organisation is currently implementing a social and legislative advocacy project to reduce incidences of sexual and gender-based violence in Bauchi, Jigawa and Kano.

She also said female undergraduates were being trained across the country to increase their understanding of GBV and how to lead the advocacy against it.