Crime

Stakeholders Call for Implementation of VAPP, Criminal Justice Law

By Web News 497

By Funmi Ojo

Stakeholders on Sexual and Gender Based Violence have called for effective implementation of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law and Administration of Criminal Justice Law.

They made the call in Osogbo, Osun State at the Best Practice Roundtable on Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law and Administration of Criminal Justice Law.

Our Correspondent Funmi Ojo reports that the theme of the roundtable was “Towards Consolidating Advocacy for Effective Justice Delivering for Survivors of SGBV”.

The Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law (2015) was made to eliminate violence in private and public life, prohibit all forms of violence against persons and to provide maximum protection and effective remedies for victims and punishments of offenders.

The bill for Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law (VAPP) was enacted in 2013 and passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on May 14, 2015 which has been domesticated by 34 states including Osun State.

Also, the Administration of Criminal Justice Law 2018 provides for the administration of criminal justice system which promotes efficient management of criminal justice institutions, speedy dispensation of justice, protection of the society from crimes and protection of the rights and interest of the suspect, the defendant and victims in Nigeria.

Delivering a paper on Accelerating Best Practices on Administration of Criminal Justice Law and Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law, The Chief Magistrate, Administration, Osun State, Dr. Olusegun Ayilara said stakeholders must be intentional about their roles in seeking justice for survivors of Sexual and Gender Based Violence.

The Executive Director, Community Advancement Initiative for Self-Reliance, Mrs. Eni Ayeni advocated funding of one-stop Sexual Assault Referral Centers across states, monitoring framework for the implementation as well as setting up of special courts to try sexual and Gender Based Violence cases.

Also speaking, Mrs. Veronica Onoja, from Justice, Development and Peacemakers Center, Osogbo, noted that the increasing cases of Gender Based Violence (GBV) is due to delay in getting justice, calling on relevant stakeholders to expedite action toward investigation and prosecution of such cases.

The Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law and Administration of Criminal Justice Law, for all its remarkable qualities, cannot accomplish all that it was created for without the necessary structures to aid in doing so.

Subscribe to our Telegram and YouTubeChannels also join our Whatsapp Update Group

Lifestyle

Ondo State Government Launches Braille Version of VAPP Law

By Web News 504

By Olufisoye Adenitan

The Ondo State Government has launched the Braille Version of the Violence against Persons Prohibited Law, VAPP for persons with disability.

The braille version of the law was produced by the Ondo State Agency against Gender Based Violence, OSSAGBV, and the Westminster Foundation For Democracy, WFD.

At the occasion, the Executive Director, OSSAGBV, Mrs Bolanle Afolabi said the VAPP law was an important document enacted to protect the rights of all citizens of the state.

In her address on the occasion, the wife of the governor, Mrs Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, represented by Senior Special Assistant on Gender Matters, Mrs Ngozi Igbo-Okoro emphasized that the braille version was a good development in order to carry everyone in the society along especially persons with disability in the state.

She said the current administration in the was working towards ensuring that the VAPP Law was adequately implemented to protect vulnerable special people.

Also speaking, the Ondo State Agency for the Welfare of Persons with Disabilities, Folasade Arise commended the initiative of the production of the braille version of the law.

She said persons with disability are most times vulnerable to rape because of the peculiarity of their disability.

Also the chairman, Joint National Association of Persons with Disability JONAPWD, Mr Abiodun Samuel Olusegun appreciated the braille version of VAPP law which he said will assist the visually impaired persons in the state.

Earlier the Country Representative , Westminster Foundation For Democracy, WFD, Mr Adebowale Olorunmola said the organisation supported the provision of the assistive devices like the braille version of the VAPP law to aid the work of persons with disabilities.

In his presentation, the Executive Director, Disability Awareness and Development Initiative, Mr Stephen Akinola stressed the need for the creation of an economic empowerment initiative that would give financial stability to persons with disability.

Subscribe to our Telegram and YouTube Channels also join our Whatsapp Update Group

Lifestyle

UNPF Sentisizes CSO’s on VAPP

By Web News 594

In its bid to further inform and educate citizens, the UNPF in collaboration with Oyo State Ministry of Justice and Centre for Population and Reproductive Health organised a one day sensitization workshop on Violence against persons Prohibition Law for Civil Society and Religious organisation at the Development Support Centre, Iyaganku, on the 21st of December, 2021.


In her welcome address, Mrs. Tolu Babawarun, Senior Project Coordinator at the Centre for Population and Reproductive Health, said at the end of the workshop, participants should be able go home with the knowledge that is needed to not only understand violence in its entirety but also to better understand how to seek help and the option that are available. She said the participants are keys to identification, provision and getting Justice for survivors.

She also said the participants are expected to pass down the knowledge gained during the workshop.


The lecturer at the workshop, Mrs. Modupe Awosenusi speaks on the need for people to be aware of the laws that govern the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act of Nigeria.

The facilitator urged participants to take the provisions of the Act to the grassroots to sensitize individuals, friends, family and other members of the community on the need to know about the ACT.


Participants said they were happy to be involved in the workshop.
Mrs. Olufunke Hamilton from the Women Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Oyo State affirmed the importance of one knowing his or her right and when they are being infringed upon.

Mrs. Hamilton said she could confidently be a voice for people whode rights are being violated.


Also, Pastor Ojetunde Abraham Mojisola, President of All Nigeria Confederation of Principal of Secondary Schools, (ANCOPS), Oyo State, asserted that saving the lives of women and girls translate to the protection of the future of any country.


He also affirmed that participating in the workshop was an eye opener, according to him, having an understanding of the ACT is key to upholding the rule of law.


He promised to pass the knowledge acquired from the workshop to his fellow colleague in ANCOPSS.

Olumide Ogunbiyi

Health

UNFPA Sensitive New Batch of Judges on VAPP law 2020

By Web News 656

A two day workshop on the need to sensitize Judges and Magistrates in Oyo State in the implementation of the Violence against Person Prohibition law organized by the Centre for Population and Reproductive Health and UNPF in collaboration with Oyo State Judiciary came up at the Kakanfo Inn.


Speaking after the workshop, the Deputy Chief Registrar, Family Court of Oyo State Judiciary, Mrs. Durosharo Tijani stated that she attended the workshop in her capacity to assist in the reduction or total elimination of crime against persons, both in Oyo State and Nigeria, by extension.


According to the Deputy Chief Registrar, who had been involved in similar workshops, where issues of violence against people were treated and condemned in its entirety, reducing or completely eradicating violence against persons in Nigeria is key to the growth and development of the country.


She tasked stakeholders on the need to ensure adequate compensation for victims of violence in Nigeria through the law.


While fielding questions from journalists after the workshop, the Deputy Chief Registrar, who was impressed by the physical presence of a survivor of violence, who narrated his ordeal after suffering from violent acts in the state, appealed to people who have suffered similar fates to come out and express their feeling. Mrs. Tijani, who was confident that the workshop would galvanize people, who have been abused in one way or the other to speak up against such acts, would surely be confident to reach out to the family court for necessary protection under the law when their rights are being violated.


Mrs. Tijani who called for the setting up of special courts to thrash issues of violence against persons in Oyo State, just as it obtains in Lagos State, said it would be a win – win situation for all and sundry.


The Deputy Chief Registrar enjoined organizers of the workshop to excercise due diligence in collaborating with the police and other security personnel, saddled with investigation, in order for them to do a thorough job before coming to the court which is seen as the last hope of the common man to file proceedings and seek redress.


If the courts are approached, Mrs. Tijani assured that justice would be served to protect the mental capacity of victims of violence while also protecting the sanctity of the Nigerian court.
Olumide Ogunbiyi

Judiciary

UNPF Sensitizes Judges on VAPP 2020 Law

By Web News 495

Clear understanding of relevant laws and its provisions would aid proper enforcement of such laws in the dispensation of justice.

The Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Muntar Abimbola stated this at a 2-day sensitization seminar for judges and magistrates in Oyo State on the in-depth knowledge and implementation of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law 2020 which was held on the 29th and 30th November, 2021 at the Kakanfo Inn and Conference Centre in Ibadan.

Justice Abimbola while acknowledging that the saying, “Justice delayed is justice denied” was true, noted that it was equally important not to rush the justice process in an unfair manner.

In a remark, the Director, Centre for Population and Reproductive Health, Professor Oladosu Ojengbede said the seminar was aimed at bringing the VAPP 2020 law into perspective for judges and magistrates in order to enhance their decision making when relevant cases are brought before them.

Our correspondent reports that the seminar which was held by the United Nations Population Fund Project in collaboration with the Oyo State Judiciary and the Centre for Population and Reproductive Health, CPHR will continue on the 12th and 13th of December for another batch of judges and magistrates in Oyo State.

Olumide Ogunbiyi