The Human Rights Agenda Network (HRAN) celebrates
with its over 330 members across Nigeria over the long awaited news that the
Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Bill (VAPP Bill) was given Presidential
assent yesterday, 25th May, 2015.
The passage of the Bill, which was 1st presented to the
National Assembly in 2002 but failed to be passed in the 5th and 6th
Legislative Assemblies, marks yet another milestone in the fight to ensure
human security and development in Nigeria as it drastically addresses prevailing
gender based violence including rape, domestic violence, female genital
mutilation (FGM), harmful widowhood practices and other threats to human
security and women in particular. It also ensures legal redress and penalties
for perpetrators in a more accessible form than existing legislations.
In fact, while the new landmark Act, addresses gender based
violence, the legislation seeks to protect all persons from violence as
depicted by the definition of rape which has been extended to include the rape
of men and boys, in line with current international standards.
At this joyous moment, HRAN reiterates the comments of its
Thematic Lead on Women's Rights, Mrs. Hauwa Shekarau of FIDA at the public
hearing of the VAPP Bill on 2nd March 2015 that '...enacting the Bill on
Violence Against Persons, first presented over a decade ago to the National
Assembly in 2002, provides not only a historic opportunity for Nigeria to
become the first African country to enact such comprehensive legislation
against violence but also the opportunity for legislators to leave a legacy
demonstrating their will to stem violence in the society and improve the lives
of Nigerians'.
The network therefore takes this opportunity to commend all
law makers who have supported the Bill both in the House of Representatives and
Senate, particularly Senator Ndoma Egba who sponsored the Bill at the Senate
and personally demonstrated commitment to its passage.
HRAN also takes this opportunity to congratulate Hajia
Saudatu Mahdi of WRAPA and HRAN Steering Committee, Mrs. Hauwa Shekarau of FIDA
and HRAN Thematic Lead on Women's Rights and its fellow civil society networks;
Legislative Advocacy Coalition on Violence Against Women (LACVAW) and the
Gender Technical Unit (GTU) for their tireless efforts towards ensuring the
passage of the Bill throughout the years.
The passage of the Bill comes at the heels of the passage of
the ACJ Bill on 14th May, 2015 and both mark a milestone in the civil society
struggle for human security and justice in Nigeria. Now that we have the VAPP
and ACJ Acts, HRAN calls on the new administration and civil society to take
steps to ensure the immediate effective implementation of the Act.
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