Civil Society Organization Tasks Kwara Govt on Implementation, Enforcement of VAPP
In a bid to end violence against women and girls in Nigeria, the Kwara State government has been urged to prioritize the implementation and enforcement of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law, Child Rights Laws and other related legal frameworks.
This call to action was contained in a press statement issued and signed by the Kwara State Focal Person, Coalition of Civil Society to End Child Marriage in Nigeria, Mr. Oyedeji Olufemi, which was made available to the media.
The Coalition on Ending Child Marriage in Nigeria issued the statement in commemoration of the 16 Days of Activism to End Violence Against Women and Girls.
It called for the need to provide access to education for all, particularly for girl-child education, and to support women and girls with leadership and vocational skills.
Furthermore, the coalition highlighted the importance of establishing adequate shelters for survivous’ recovery while ensuring access to justice, healthcare, and Counselling services including increasing the budgetary allocation for the State Ministry of Women Affairs for empowerment support.
The statement, which details statistics reflecting the stark realities of women and girls in Nigeria, quoted UNICEF, stating that 43% of girls in Nigeria are married before the age of 18.
“Seventeen percent are married before the age of 15, one in five girls experience sexual violence before the age of 18, 20% of women have undergone female genital mutilation, and 16% of girls under 15 have undergone FGM.”
According to the organization, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons also reported that 75% of trafficked persons in Nigeria are women and girls.
The National Demographic and Health Survey (2018) revealed that 31% of women in Nigeria experience sexual violence in their lifetime.
The organization stated that the 16 Days of Activism provides an opportunity to reflect on progress made in fighting gender-based violence. It commended the efforts of the Kwara State Government in the fight against the menace, citing some of its efforts towards strengthening the state protection systems for women and girls, including the passage of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law, the constitution of a 21-man Committee on Gender-Based Violence, the establishment of Sexual Assault Referral Centres, the inauguration of the Child Rights Implementation Committee (CRIC), and the development of a State Action Plan for the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation, among many other efforts.
The organization is concerned and disheartened that despite rigorous campaigns and the enactment of laws prohibiting violence against women and girls, violence persists.
These issues, it stated, have devastating impacts on millions of women and girls in Nigeria, preventing them from realizing their potential and dreams. Many have suffered physical, sexual, and emotional violence, leading to mental health and psychological trauma, with no access to justice and protection services.
