VAPP Act: Stakeholders Brace Up For Its Implementation In Adamawa

Tom Garba, Yola

Disturbed by an alarming rate of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in society, the Adamawa state House of Assembly recently passed into the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act now awaiting Governor’s assent.

It is against this background that, Stand To End Rape Initiative (STER) a Non-governmental organization with support from Spotlight Initiative organized a three-day stakeholder on the need to adopt some components of the VAPP Act in Adamawa state and on the abandonment of traditional case settlement mechanism, the provision of the law and how to access justice using VAPP Act.

Addressing the participants, the only female lawmaker in the Adamawa State House of Assembly and Member representing Demsa constituency, Hon Kate Mamuno described the workshop as timely with the passage of the VAPP Act into law by the Adamawa State House of Assembly and thanked the organizers for their foresight.

“Before the passage of the VAAP Act into law, members had training with some NGOs, CSOs where we compare the penal code and VAPP Act which one to be considered more, and it was adopted that VAPP Act should be considered, it is more elaborate in terms of rape and other Sexual Based Violence against persons”.

Mamuno who was the guest speaker stated that VAPP Act has taken care of the aspect of a minor, “in Adamawa state we have a case of a six months old baby being raped by some unscrupulous elements, we are going to ensure that VAPP Act is being implemented to the fullest”.

She said the House of Assembly has already done her part, the CSOs and the frontline ministries must come together to ensure the implementation of the law, calling on parents to speak out on the rape case and other violence so that implementation of the law can be put in place.

The member commended the wife of the Governor for her passion for ensuring that rape cases are eliminated in Adamawa state.

Mamuno was optimistic that in 2023 more women will be voted as members of the state House of Assembly and called on the government to include women in decision making, assuring that women can perform better if given the chance.

In her remark, Executive Director Stand To End Rape Initiative (STER) Oluwaseun Ayodeji Asowobi said the workshop is geared towards advocating for the assent and enforcement of the VAPP Act in Adamawa state.

“We recognize the importance of VAPP Act in Adamawa state given the lack of existing laws at the state level.

“The law when it came into existence will address violence against women and girls as well give comprehensive legal protections for survivors of violence, which will eliminate violence against women and girls in Adamawa state.

“Stand To End Rape Initiative (STER) is a youth-led social enterprise advancing gender equality by advocating against Gender-Based Violence, leading community and national-based prevention interventions, and providing holistic psychosocial support to survivors of sexual and Gender-Based Violence in Nigeria,” Asowobi said.

A consultant to the project, Madam Omolara Oriye in her presentation gave an overview of the STER’s activities, how to link the VAPP Act to everyday representations of Gender-Based Violence and how to link human rights violations experienced by women to the urgency of the VAPP Act.