16 Days Activism: FG, UN urges implementation of VAPP Act in states

Federal government has called for full implementation of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition, (VAPP), Act, in states across the federation to mitigate and cut down cases of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, (SGBV).

Minister of Women Affairs, Barrister Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, made the call at a press briefing in commemoration of this year’s 16 Days of Activism Unite Campaign themed ‘ Invest to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls’, yesterday in Abuja.

She said it is commendable that the states have adopted the VAPP Act but government at that level must ensure full implementation of the Act to protect Nigeria women and children from all forms of violence.

According to her, “The theme in particular calls for accountability and improved investment in girl child education, ICT, women socio-economic advancement and empowerment, investment in ending all forms of Violence especially rape, sexual abuse, battery, molestation, harmful traditional practices such as Female Genital Mutilation, (FGM), widowhood, disinheritance, to mention but a few.

“If current trends continue, more than 340 million women and girls will still live in extreme poverty by 2030, and close to one in four will experience moderate or severe food insecurity.

“Growing vulnerability brought on by human-induced climate change is likely to worsen this outlook, as many as 236 million more women and girls will be food-insecure under a worst-case climate scenario.

Barrister Kennedy-Ohanenye notes that halfway to the end point of the 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development, the world is failing to achieve gender equality, thus making it an increasingly distant goal.

“There is no hiding place for all violators of our girls and women. As we consider this important theme for this year commemoration, I want us all to ponder on the level and kind of investment that over the years have accrued to women and girls and for our institutions, MDAs, development partners and bilateral, multilateral and indeed the private sector, she said.

The ministry adds that “It is estimated that 35% of women with one in every three Nigerian females have experienced violence at some point in their lives, mostly by an intimate partner. According to the statistics from the GBV Data Situation room.

“In the last one year, Nigeria under the Spotlight programme in 6 states (Adamawa, Lagos, Sokoto, Cross River and FCT) has recorded 27,698 cases of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence between 2020 and 2023, with 1,145 fatal GBV cases; with 393 perpetrators convicted; 9,636 as open cases; 3,432 new cases; 1,741 as closed cases and 1,895 follow-up cases within the period under review.

Calling for more empowerment of women and girls as well as protecting them through the VAPP Act and increased budgetary allocation to this end, United Nations, (UN), Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Nigeria, Matthias Schmale, said “The UN Unite Campaign works in solidarity with relevant governments, development partners Civil Society Organisations, (CSOs), women groups, the private sector and the media to call for an end to violence against women.

“We are estimating that globally, a staggering 736 million women, that is almost one in three women around the globe have suffered sexual and or physical intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence or both at least once in th heir lives.

Violence negatively affects women’s physical mental health and well-being at al stages of their lives and the impact on national development.”

“Unfortunately, violence against girls and women remains one of the most prevalent and pervasive human rights violation in the world.”

Schmale said many countries have passed laws to combat violence against women and girls but “Weak enforcement and discriminatory social norms remains significant problems.”

The duo therefore urged stakeholders to work towards full implementation of all laws for the protection of women and girls from violence.