TheCable

YIAGA Africa, a civil society organisation, has commended Ahmadu Fintiri, governor of Adamawa, for signing the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) bill into law.

The VAPP Act, which was passed by the Adamawa house of assembly in March 2021, “prohibits all forms of violence against persons in private and public life”, and “provides maximum protection and effective remedies for victims and punishment of offenders”.

Most importantly, the VAPP Act prohibits all forms of violence against women and girls in Nigeria.

Adamawa state becomes the 17th state in the country to adopt the law.

In a statement signed on Sunday by Cynthia Mbamalu, director of programmes, YIAGA said the development will encourage other states to domesticate the law so as to end violence against women and girls.

“YIAGA Africa with the support of the European Union-United Nations Spotlight Initiative project had in the past few months supported campaigns for the passage and signing of the bill into law in Adamawa state. Specifically, in June 2021, YIAGA Africa organized an Advocacy Strategy Workshop, bringing together Civil Society partners, the media, other key influencers and champions of women and girls right in the state assembly, to design strategies for the executive assent to the bill,” the statement reads.

“YIAGA Africa also wishes to commend and congratulate the Adamawa state house of assembly for passing this landmark bill that will contribute to ensuring that violence against women and girls in Adamawa state is eliminated. We also commend the efforts of civil society organizations, community-based organizations, individuals, and other groups that have pushed for the passage of the VAPP Act and its signing into law in Adamawa state.

“The signing of the VAPP Act into law in Adamawa state will encourage states that are yet to domesticate the law to do so in order to ensure that all forms of violence against women and girls in their states are eliminated. Thus far, the law has been passed and awaiting assent in seven states and yet to be passed in 11 others.

“YIAGA Africa with the support of the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative will continue to engage with stakeholders in various states to foster legislative and policy frameworks favorable to protect and empower women and girls and will work towards strengthening national and sub-national systems for the coordination and delivery of a multi-sectoral response to preventing gender-based violence and harmful practices towards women and girls.”