FIDA Wants NASS To Pass VAPP Bill

The National President, International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Mrs Hauwa
Shekarau, has called on the House of Representatives to pass the Violence
law  Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP)
Bill.

Shekaru, who made the call in an
interview with newsmen on Tuesday in Umuahia, said Nigeria was currently
recording an upsurge in domestic violence.

“Nigeria situation is a big issue
because domestic violence not only affected women, it also affects men.

“We have noticed that various forms of
domestic and sexual violence occur in Nigeria daily and the existing laws no
longer tackle some of the emerging cases.

“The existing laws have become obsolete
and there is the need to pass the VAPP bill to handle most of the emerging
cases,’’ she said.

Shekarau said the VAPP bill, which was
an expanded law before the House of Representatives, when passed the law would
tackle all forms of sexual violence committed against male and female.

She called on Nigerians irrespective of
tribe and creed to show concern for the speedy passage of VAPP bill to check
dangerous forms of sexual violence now creeping into Nigeria.

“If you read Nigeria newspapers, there
is no day that a case of domestic violence cases such as gang rape and sexual
abuse of the underage are not reported.

“This in a year will translate to at
least 365 cases,’’ she said.

She said that FIDA and other NGOs had
set up a coalition called legislative advocacy coalition on violence against
women with a view to ensure speedy passage of VAPP bill.

Shekarau said that all over the world,
there was global attention being focused on violence against women.

According to her, Nigerians must cue to
such agenda to tackle the upsurge of domestic violence.

She said that Nov. 25 to Dec. 10 every
year, attention was focused on the violence against women with a view to
highlighting the problems as well as seeking solutions to eliminate them.

She expressed regrets that because of
the dearth of effective legislation, most perpetrators of domestic violence
walked the streets free.

“Nigerian criminal law system requires
overhauling to ensure that perpetrators are brought to book.

“I read recently a case whereby somebody
pleaded guilty to the rape of a minor and a judge in punishing the culprit
recommended that he be given 20 strokes of the cane.

“This is against the prescribed
punishment.’’