CSOs Demand Domestication Of Child Rights, VAPP Acts

Following rising cases of child abuse and sexual violence across the country, 10 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), yesterday, demanded nationwide domestication of Child Rights and Violence Against Persons Prohibition Acts.
The CSOs demanding for the domestication of the two Acts include, TechHer NG, Invictus Africa, Connected Development, Enough is Enough Nigeria, Stand To End Rape Initiative, SilverChipFox, Yiaga Africa, Dorothy Njemanze Foundation, Women Advocates Research & Documentation Centre, and Education as a Vaccine.
The CSOs also launched a nationwide campaign to advocate for systemic change on Sexual and Gender-based Violence (SGBV) in Nigeria.
It would be recalled that on the 4th of June, 2020, #StateOfEmergencyGBV campaign commenced, which they simultaneously held peaceful protests in Abuja and Lagos on Friday, June 5, 2020.
Afterward, similar protests were replicated in other states/cities by sister civil society organisations insisting on the declaration of a State of Emergency on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in Nigeria.
These protests complemented the ongoing online campaign, #StateofEmergencyGBV, calling on citizens to demand that their legislators and state governments take holistic steps to protect citizens from all forms of violence, particularly sexual and gender-based violence.
These activities also complemented efforts by legislators and the Governors’ Wives Forum pushing for the declaration of a State of Emergency on SGBV.
Giving an update on the #StateOfEmergencyGBV movement in Nigeria, yesterday, they explained that the VAPP Act (2015) is an improvement on the penal and criminal code in relation to domestic and gender-based violence.
It applies to violence in private and public spaces.
The VAPP Act expands definitions of violence to include acts against men and boys, and also provides protection for victims/survivors of violence and punishment for offenders.
The VAPP also provides a more holistic definition of rape.