Alliances for Africa, AfA, in collaboration
with the Imo state Committee on Ending Violence against Women and Girls, ISCEVAWG
has charged the Imo state government on the speedy implementation of the
provisions of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition, VAPP bill recently passed
into law.
In a joint statement signed by the Executive
Director, Alliances for Africa, Iheoma Obibi and the Coordinator, ISCEVAWG,
Majorie Ezihe, the group urged the government to immediately create and allocate budget towards the full
enforcement of the VAPP Act and also to create an active state GBV rapid
response team that will see to the provisions of immediate survivor centered
services.
They also called for
an establishment of the Violence Against Person’s
Agency, to be led by an active multi-sectoral action committee including, setting
up a Sexual Assault Referral Center (SARC), that will
render services to aid the reintegration of survivors into the society through
leveraging on existing unutilized state structures for
the Shelter in safeguarding survivors from abusers.
Narrating
their journey to the enactment of the VAPP in the state, the group stated that,
despite the VAPP Act being signed into law during the administration of Gov.
Rochas Okorocha in 2012 and subsequently repealed due to skirmishes that
plagued the law, owing to its alleged provision for abortion, it was later
re-introduced by the member representing Njaba state constituency and chairman,
House Committee on Gender, Amb. Uju Onwudiwe in 2019.
They further informed that, after the disconcerting part of the bill was removed, it was publicly heard on December 7, 2020, despite resistance. Cross learning program was conducted for a consultant to review provisions of the VAPP bill, using Lagos and Ekiti gender-based violence framework, according to them.
“Also, AfA in partnership with
ISCEVAWG, and the Ministry of Gender and Vulnerable group, was at the fore,
demanding the speedy enactment and enforcement of the VAPP bill in Imo state
through advocacies, awareness creation, multi-stakeholder engagements, media
sensitizations and briefings and engaged several organizations including, Civil
society organizations, Government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies to
mobilize support for the adoption and domestication of the VAPP.” It reads.
The
group noted that, when the VAPP is fully implemented, it will address all forms
of violence against women and girls, including sexual violence, physical
violence, emotional violence, domestic violence and harmful cultural practices
perpetrated by state and non-state actors, and provide full legal protection,
adequate remedies and maximum punishment for offenders.
“The
Act will also ensure accountability on its stakeholders when fully enforced,
including implementing agency, other ministries, departments and agencies, law
enforcement agencies, civil society organizations and all citizens”.
They appreciated the Education as Vaccine (EVA),
the United Nations Trust Fund on Ending Violence Against Women, (UNTF-EVAWG),
and other partners for their efforts and contributions towards the passage and
assent of the Imo State VAPP Bill, including the wife of the governor, Her
Excellency Chioma Uzodinma and the
Honorable member representing, Njaba State constituency, and Chief sponsor of
the bill, Hon. Amb. Uju Onwudiwe