UN, EU commend Adamawa Gov. for signing VAPP Act into law

[From ANIEKAN ANIEKAN, Calabar]

European Union (UN) and United Nations (UN) in Nigeria have commended the Governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, for assenting to the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) law on September 1, 2021.

The VAPP Law is one of the national laws in the country which is aimed at protecting people particularly women and girls from all acts of violence.

UN Resident Coordinator, Nigeria, Edward Kallon, said this reflects the commitment of the government to ensure dignity for vulnerable persons.

 “We commend the efforts of the State Assembly, civil society organizations and all stakeholders who were instrumental to this process.

“Indeed, the efforts of these grass root organizations as pioneers of change and the high political will of the Executive and Legislative arms of governance within the state is what has resulted in the milestone passage of the VAPP law in Adamawa State.

“This important landmark reflects the State’s commitment to ensuring dignity and justice to vulnerable members of its society. With the passage of the Bill, citizens of Adamawa State (especially its women and girls), are now better protected by law from abuse and harmful practices”.

On his part, Alexandre Borgis Gomes, Deputy Head of EU delegation to Nigeria said the EU will support the state in implementing the law.

 “The EU commit to fully supporting Adamawa State as it prepares for the enforcement of the VAPP Law within the State.

“We would like to remind all stakeholders (state and non-state actors, community leaders, religious leaders, disability rights groups, women and youth-led organizations, law enforcement agencies, media organizations among others) to sustain efforts around disseminating the provisions of the Adamawa State VAPP law and supporting its translation into an instrument of change and development for the State as well as greater women’s human rights and economic empowerment”.

Also speaking, Hadiza Aminu Dorayi, National Coordinator, Spotlight Initiative said “The United Nations and European Union has mainstreamed gender into all its financial commitments and instruments, with allocations through the Spotlight Initiative and other projects aimed at empowering women and girls to achieve gender equality.

“We would like to reiterate our full support and cooperation as we continue working with the Adamawa State Government towards gender parity. We use this opportunity to encourage states that have not yet passed the VAPP law to do so as a way of prioritizing the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 5 on women’s rights and empowerment”.

“Access to Justice is a critical element that would be essential to the success of the VAPP law.  It is time to finally put an end to the continuing culture of silence and impunity.

“There is need to ensure that perpetrators of violence are severely punished according to the provisions of the VAPP Law and all relevant stakeholders are held accountable towards ensuring the implementation of the law in its full effect and used for the benefit of the community members especially women and girls”, he said.

The Nigerian Senate had on May 5th 2015 passed the VAPP Act into law and it was assented to by the then president, Dr. Good luck Jonathan on May 25th 2015.

It initially applied in the FCT but several states in Nigeria has domesticated it into law in their respective states.

The Act aims to address the  increase in the cases of violence against people in Nigeria.

It criminalises various acts like rape, physical injury on a person and female genital mutilation.

Others include emotional, verbal, and psychological abuse and political violence.