A Non-Governmental Organization Young Women in Politics Forum, (YWPF) has called for the full implementation of the Violence Against Person Prohibition, (VAPP) law in Kogi State to put an end to all forms of Gender Based Violence in the State.
The Kogi State Coordinator, Young Women in Politics Forum, Barr. Joy Akinola made the call at a sensitization walk held in Lokoja in commemoration of 16 days of Activism to end Gender Based Violence in Kogi State.
Akinola, while noting that, the poor implementation of the VAPP law is stagnating the fight against Gender Based Violence in Kogi State averred that, Violence against Women and Girls remains a cankerworm that has eaten deep into the fabrics of Nigeria society.
According to the legal practitioner,
“We already have a structure which is the VAPP law. When we give it full implementation of the VAPP law in Kogi State, Violence Against Women and Girls will be a thing of the past.
” The VAPP law is so comprehensive. It has so many provisions in the protection of young Women, Girls, adult, older Women, including people with disabilities. If this law is properly implemented, there will be so much peace in Kogi State and Violence against Women and Girls will be a thing of the past”.
Akinola posited that young Woman over the years are major victims of Gender Based Violence, stressing that, the society have continued to relegate them in terms of governance in Nigeria.
On why the organization decided to take the lead in the fight against Gender Based Violence in Kogi State and the full implementation of the VAPP, the young legal practitioner said ” The VAPP law
will provide intervention for elderly people, Women generally and to the elderly people.
” When there are provisions for youths, it is mostly the male youths that are captured. In between, we have Women that are young who are not part of the Women activities and that of the Youths.
“So we are in the middle and mostly affected by Gender Based Violence. That is why we have joined this campaign to say no to Gender Based Violence especially in politics and governance. We also ask that young Women should be given a chance because we are knowledgeable and can contribute to national development”.
She also aligned herself with other stakeholders that low reporting has contributed to increase in Gender Based Violence in Nigeria Society.
Explaining further, the Kogi State Coordinator of YWPF said”From 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to 10 December, Human Rights Day, the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence Campaign is a time to galvanize action to end violence against women and girls around the world. The international campaign originated from the first Women’s Global Leadership Institute coordinated by the Center for Women’s Global Leadership in 1991.
“For far too long, impunity, silence and stigma have allowed violence against women to escalate to pandemic proportions—one in three women worldwide experience gender-based violence.
“Violence strives in secrecy. Where the victims and survivors are silent, there is possibility of perpetuating that violence the more. When people speak out, their is repercussions. People will know that when you do anything against Women, you will be punished for it. That will serve as deterrent to others who intends to cause pain on innocent Women and Girls in our society”.
It could be recalled that Governor Yahaya Bello in June 2022 signed the Violence Against Person Prohibition, (VAPP) Law in Kogi State.