Ondo Trains Judicial Officers on VAPP Law

By Olufisoye Adenitan

Ondo state government says it will continue to empower judicial workers and prosecutors with training and retraining towards adequate usage of the VAPP Law to prosecute sexual and gender-based violence offenders and get justice for survivors.

The Executive Secretary, Ondo State Agency Against Gender-Based Violence, OSSAGBV, Mrs Bolanle Afolabi made this known at a Stakeholders engagement with Ondo Magistrates and Prosecutors facilitated by the state government and Westminster Foundation for Democracy in Akure.

Mrs. Afolabi admonished the Judicial Officers to be open-minded in refraining from doing things that would deny Gender-based violence victims of Quick Justice.

Speaking on the roles of prosecutors in Gender Based Violence cases, Assistant Director, Ministry of Justice, Oyo state, Mrs Deborah Collins emphasized the need for prosecutors to serve as Investigators to get in-depth knowledge of Issues.

Mrs. Collins charged the Judicial Officers to exonerate themselves from biases encountered in the criminal justice system to give the sector more credibility.

In her submission, Professor of Gender Studies, Adekunle Ajasin University, Bukola Osunyikanmi, emphasized that GBV was a global pandemic that needed the support of the judiciary sector for a quick justice system for victims.

She called on mothers to make discipline more statutory for children considering the gravity of offenses perpetrated by teenagers in recent times. 

The Director of Legal Services, Ondo State Ministry of Justice, Mrs Stella Adegoke explained that the VAPP Law has adequate provisions to address  GBV cases and punish offenders.

In her goodwill messages, a member, Ondo State House of Assembly from Ilaje Constituency II, Mrs. Olawumi Fayemi reaffirmed the resolve of the legislative arm of government to continue to pass gender-friendly bills that would stop gender-based violence cases in the State.

Earlier, Country Director, Westminster Foundation for Democracy, Mr Adebowale Olorunmola stressed that WFD was committed to improved Advocacy and engagement of stakeholders for adequate usage of the VAPP Law to get justice for victims and survivors.

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