The Inclusion Project-TIP joins the rest of the world to mark the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence and calls on the Nigerian Government to ensure the full implementation of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act/Laws and protect women and young girls from all forms of gender-based violence.
This year’s theme, “UNITE! Activism to end violence against women and girls, “is a clarion call to all stakeholders, especially the Government, to increase awareness of gender-based violence and galvanize support to eliminate gender-based violence by ensuring perpetrators do not go unpunished. The upsurge in the report of incidences of Gender-based violence is alarming. Violence against women and young girls continues to multiply each day despite the several existing laws in place to guide and protect women against gender-based violence, including but not limited to the Nigerian Constitution, the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act, 2015, etc. Over 30 states have passed the VAPP laws, yet the lack of implementation has continually clogged the wheels of progress in the fight to eliminate gender-based violence.
Gender-based violence is one of the major impediments to achieving gender equality, posing a fundamental barrier to equal opportunities for women and girls. The right of women and girls to live free from violence is inalienable and fundamental.
Therefore, TIP calls on the Nigerian Government to ensure the full implementation of the VAPP Act/ laws in the states that have passed the law as well as mandate states who are yet to enact VAPP laws to do so as a matter of urgency in their States to improve their judicial response to prosecuting gender-based violence cases.
In addition, TIP calls for increased funding for the National Agency for the prohibition of Trafficking of persons and other related matters (NAPTIP) to enable them efficiently deliver their mandate in administering the provisions of the VAPP Act. The Government should further establish public awareness and sensitization programs that would inform the public of the adverse effects of gender-based violence while encouraging individuals to speak up against the menace and take firm action to end gender-based violence in Nigeria.
For this year’s 16 Days events, TIP will conduct various activities, including an online campaign on all our social media pages on different forms of violence faced by women and disciplinary measures. Kindly follow our social media pages Instagram –Twitter Facebook to stay updated on TIP’s activities for the 16 Days of Activism.
Signed by
Bridget Andrew
TIP Legal Officer