Foundation Advocates Establishment Of Agency To Implement Violence Against Persons In Enugu
The CLEEN Foundation, an NGO, on Tuesday advocated establishment of statutory Agency on implementation of the Violence Against Persons (VAPP) Law in Enugu State to check Sexual, Gender Based Violence (SGBV) and other injustices.
Executive Director of the Foundation, Mr Peter Maduoma, made the call during a two-day State-Level Policy Dialogue with the theme: “Bridging the VAPP Law Implementation Gap – Strengthening Capacity, Institutional Compliance, and Duty-Bearer Accountability” in Enugu.
Represented by a Senior Programme Officer, Mr Nnamdi Odo, the executive director noted that to achieve long-term and institutionalised impact on Enugu State VAPP Law 2019 implementation there was need to establish a full-fledged governmental-agency.
According to him, there is a compelling need to transition from the current VAPP Taskforce to a fully operational, statutory agency on Violence Against Persons, as explicitly mandated under Part 5, Section 40 of the Enugu State VAPP Law 2019.
He said that formalizing and inaugurating this agency would provide permanent structural authority, legal backing, and institutional permanence required to institutionalise survivor support and hold perpetrators accountable in 17 council areas in the state.
“Therefore, we respectfully submit a firm call to the Executive arm of the Enugu State Government to ensure that: The Agency on Violence Against Persons is established immediately.
“Mandate adequate, dedicated, and annual budgetary provisions are made for the implementation of the VAPP Law in Enugu State.
“A specific capital and operational line item in the state’s annual budget is vital to: operationalise the statutory agency and Victim Trust Fund; and resource Local Government Protection Officers and Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs).
“Support free medical, legal, and psychological rehabilitation for survivors (Section 35); and sustained capacity-building for law enforcement and judicial officers,” he said.
Maduoma, however, commended the strides taken by the Enugu State Government in championing the elimination of violence across the state.
“Most notably, we express our profound appreciation to the State Government for establishing the Enugu State VAPP Law Implementation Taskforce in first place,” he said.
Collaborating, Mr Ukpai Awa, Zonal Commander, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) Enugu Zonal Command, called for strengthening compliance and securing sustainable funding for the VAPP Law.
Awa urged stakeholders to brainstorm on implementation, which would make the state and its council areas a beacon of safety, human dignity, and justice for all.
He appreciated CLEEN Foundation for spearheading the institutionalisation of human rights and justice for all within Enugu State, South-East and the country at large.
Speaking, Barr. Annie Enweani, Chairperson of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria, Enugu State Branch, urged more advocacy and funding for VAPP as well as safe shelters for victims.
Enweani urged women and family members to speak out when their rights are violated, while community and religious leaders in localities should support human rights and justice for all.
The policy dialogue was organised by CLEEN Foundation and Norwegian Embassy.
The Enugu State House of Assembly passed the domesticated VAPP Law in April, 2019 and it was signed by the governor into Law immediately.
