Africa Media Development Foundation (AMDF) held one-day roundtable meeting with stakeholders to brainstorm on the way forward for the full implementation of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law in Kaduna State, Nigeria.
The meeting was part of activities towards the implementation of the project “Prevention of Gender Based Violence in 12 Communities in Kaduna State”.
In a welcome remark, Executive Director of AMDF, Mr. Iliya Kure, said the Roundtable was convened to find ways towards the full implementation of the VAPP law, which has been inactive.
Cases of Violence against Women and Girls, he noted, were exponential with several ones even in isolation. Mr. Kure then enjoined the participants to identify the shortcomings with possible solutions so that violence against women and girls would reduce.
Speaking to participants at the meeting, the Project Manager and Rise Up Leader, Benjamin Yunana Maigari said the project team saw the need for the meeting due to some gaps identified in the implementation of the VAPP Law for prosecution among stakeholders.
Hence, the need to bring together stakeholders from the Kaduna State Ministry of Justice, State Ministry of Human Services and Social Development, the Judiciary, the Nigeria Police Force Gender Unit, CSOs and the Media.
The participants discussed on existing gaps hindering the full implementation of the VAPP law in the state and identified a unified and holistic approach towards finding solutions to the menace of gender-based violence.
The stakeholders stressed the need for a strong synergy among the Ministry of Justice, the Judiciary, Ministry of Human Services and Social Development as well as the Police.
On low awareness of the VAPP law amongst the general public and even among some prosecuting agencies, it was suggested that the Ministry of Human Services and Social Development should own the task by championing the sensitization campaign without delay.
Participants committed to commence immediate prosecution of gender based violence using the VAPP Law.
The project is being implemented by Africa Media Development Foundation (AMDF), funding is provided by Rise Up; a program of the Public Health Institute, through funding from the Cummins Foundation.