The Nigerian Bar Association Human Right Institute (NBA-HRI) on Sunday called for the adoption and implementation of the Violence against Persons (Prohibition) Act 2015.
Mr Chino Obiagwu (SAN) NBA-HRI Chairman and Ms Rashidat Muhammad, NBA-HRI Secretary, made this call in Lagos as the world begins 16 days activism against gender violence.
He said that the implementation of the Act, would greatly assist in the elimination of violence against women and girls in society.
The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women is celebrated every Nov. 25.
The day heralds the beginning of 16 days activism to end violence against women.
The 16 days of Activism against gender-based violence campaign, runs until Dec. 10, which coincides with the International Human Rights
Obiagwu said that NBA-HRI was therefore, calling for a full implementation of the VAPP Act passed into law eight years ago, as well as its holistic adoption by the various states of the federation.
“The NBA-HRI calls on federal and state governments to adopt and fully implement the VAPP Act 2015, with the aim to punishing and preventing all forms of violence against women and children.
“NBA-HRI also calls on the National Assembly to urgently pass into law, the Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill, which aims to domesticate the UN convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women.
“The VAPP Act was passed into law as a means to preventing and curbing gender- based violence, including domestic or spousal violence, traditional harmful practices such and other forms of sexual assaults, at workplace and schools, gender discrimination in employment, remuneration and in public space.
“Though the VAPP Act was passed eight years ago, only a few states have adopted its provisions, and none of the states have set up the necessary infrastructure for its full implementation.
“NBA-HRI believes that such important law should be the priority of all governments and law enforcement and prosecution agencies at federal and state levels,” he said
Obiagwu noted that for these 16 days of activism, the NBA-HRI would daily remind the government institutions and officials on the dangers of violence against women especially sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) on the economic and social development of the country.
He said the body, therefore, called on government to make deliberate effort to curb and prevent violence against women, and indeed, all forms of discrimination against women in Nigeria.
“NBA-HRI calls on all ministries of justice at federal and state levels to establish specialized departments for the prosecutions of sexual and gender based crimes,” he said.
He said that the NBA-HRI is available to provide necessary support required to the state institutions in ensuring that impunity in the area of SGBV was reduced.
