The Culture of Silence, Gender Roles, lack of Safe Spaces among other issues have been identified as responsible for the inability to put an end to Gender Based Violence in Plateau State, despite efforts by government, civil society, the traditional institution and religious organizations to find lasting solutions to the menace.
These were the issues discussed by Panelists during Multi-Stakeholder Integrational Dialogue to Address Issues of Gender Based Violence using the Violent Against Person Prohibition Law (VAPP) and the Gender and Equal Access Law (GEO) in Plateau Stat organized by the Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA), held on Tuesday 23rd August 2023 at Lamonde Hotel, Jos.
This is part of the ‘Legal and Social Empowerment Program on Women’s Rights in Kaduna and Plateau States’ powered by the African Women’s Development Fund. The Panelists comprised of Civil Society, the Media, Religious and Traditional Institutions, the took time to dissect the challenges and possible solutions.
There was a breakaway session where different groups (media, civil society, religious groups, traditional institution, youths and other women groups) retreated into clusters to discuss their commitments towards the successful and effective implementation of the VAPP and GEO Laws in Plateau State.
Speaking to Journalists at the event, Plateau State Project Officer WRAPA, Jummai Madaki said that the event was about getting to all sectors of the society in order to get the best of the Gender and Equal Access, as well as the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Laws which have been on for 8 and 12 years respectively, yet there is still to be desired in the results in successes recorded in the fight against Gender Based Violence.
She expressed optimism that with the recent appointment into the new Gender and Equal Access Commission by Executive Governor of Plateau State Barrister Caleb Mutfwang, it is expected that things will be different. She however pointed out that the Gender and Equal Access Commission comes with a Sexual Assault Response Center (SARC) which is a one-stop expected to have the tools and services for the proper implementation of the VAPP and GEO laws.
She clarified that the VAPP Law was not only about women and girls but it covers boys and men also against assaults and other forms of Gender Based Violence, hence she urged government to expedite action in providing the needed tools and structures for the effective and efficient implementation of the VAPP and GEO laws which have not be properly implemented despite being gazetted for 8 and 12 years respectively.
Nigeria Star News 