AfA Holds Public hearing on Implementation of VAPP Law in Imo .
The members of Alliances for Africa and other civil society groups in Imo state, over the weekend held a special public hearing program towards the promotion of knowledge and implementation of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition law in Imo state.
The program which took place at Rock view hotels by government house roundabout, Owerri Imo state, on Friday 23rd of September,2022 had in attendance different civil society groups, clergymen, security agents and media gurus practicing in the state.
Recall, VAPP bill was sponsored by the member representing the good people of Njaba state Constituency, Hon. Uju Onwudiwe at the floor of the 9th Imo state house of Assembly and was signed into law by the governor of Imo state, on 15th December, 2021.
Welcoming and introducing all those who graced the occasion was Mrs Marjorie Ngozi Ezihe the Chairman, Imo state Committee on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls and AfA’s project officer, Faith Kalagbor who explained the essence of the event which was targetted at educating Imo people on the need to say no to any form of human violence and abuse.
Giving an overview of the project, AfA’s Programs Manager, Duru Blessing informed that the project is a three years project, sponsored by the United Nations Trust Fund, to support efforts on ending violence against women and girls in Imo state.
She noted that one of the achievement of the project was the enactment of the VAPP bill into law in the state, as she recounted the journey so far.
Taking the audience on a very long exposition on the Imo VAPP law, its provisions and innovations, Barrister Calistus Ihejiagwa he stated that the law expantiated rape as a crime unlike what was obtainable and accorded appropriate punishment to perpetrator and compensation to survivors.
It was revealed at the event,that the VAPP law addressed with stipulated punishment the following, inflicting physical injury on a person , taking undue advantage of persons with disability, prohibition of female genital mutilation, forceful ejection from home, harmful widowhood practices, abandoned of spouses, children and other dependents without sustenance , rape and defilement and other things, due to.
The VAPP law is a comprehensive legal documents that tackles all forms of violence against persons particularly women and girls who are mostly victims. The VAPP ensures justice and protection of victims in a way that guarantees freedom, compensation and respect for human rights. More so, it upholds the dignity and rights of men and women equally.
The high point of the event, was the explanation of how this VAPP law should be implemented by the state government of Imo state, traditional institutions in the state and churches.
The recommendation include, urgent making available budgetary allocations from the state treasury for the establishment of violence against person’s agency, establish a sexual assault referral center (SARC) for case management, psychosocial support, the establishment of an active regulatory body, made up of multi- sectoral action committee and a state gender based violence rapid response team to monitor enforcement of the VAPP law and also the provision of shelters to temporary house survivors out of danger.
