LACVAW ENJOINS STAKEHOLDERS TO END VIOLENT AGAINST WOMEN

Stakeholders on Tuesday, 10th February were further sensitized to ending violence against women. This was at the first day of the two days townhall meeting for Abuja municipal area council on sata sensitization under the intervention strategy for the effective implementation of the VAPP ACT (2015) Project in Abuja.

Recall, the Violence Against People Prohibited (Act) VAPP was signed into law in 2015 as a legal instrument for the investigation, prosecution and conviction of offenders.

  The townhall meeting, a melting point for ideas on how to end the menace deepens conversation on issues surrounding sexual and gender based violence. The meeting hosts stakeholders fromfaith based organisations, traditional leaders, government functionaries, council legislatures, health and social workers, law enforcement agencies, NGOs etc while, The European Union and British Council sponsor.

In a welcome remark, the Executive Council Chairman- Abuja Municipal Area Council, Hon. Abdullahi Adamu Candido while declaring the event opened commends the Legislative Advocacy Coalition on Violence Against Women Initiative.

He noted, ” there is no course more noble than championing a voice for the helpless and the abused in the society which is the passion of this group; I wish to congratulate you on the courage and tenaciousness with which you have been carrying out this advocacy and the success story being recorded in this regard”. The council boss who pledged the unflinching support of the council in any way possible also called on other relevant bodies to ensure that the VAPP Act is given the necessary attention it deserves in terms of implementation to ensure the inhuman act of sexual harassment and violence being perpetuated against vulnerable women in the society is brought to a halt.

Earlier,the coordinator, Legislative Advocacy Coalition on Violence Against Women Initiative (LACVAW) Aqy Anazonwu said, the initiative is a coalition of over fifty (50) civil society organizations and individuals working on ending sexual and gender based violence in Nigeria. The day one conversation succintly exhausted issues surrounding the thematic areas of √• Rape √• Sexual and Gender Based Violence √• The Violence Against Persons (Prohibited) [VAPP] Act. √• Sexual and Gender Based Violence Response Tool-pack. The townhall meeting generously gives credence to panticipants’ perspective.