In its continuous efforts geared towards promoting stability, access to justice, and accountability in the North-west, the Global Peace Development, supported by International Alert, an NGO, has organised a sensitisation and awareness campaign on Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law for Kaduna communities.
The programme, which took place at New World Hotel Kafanchan, Jema’a local government area of Kaduna state during the weekend, was attended by participants from Dangoma, Zikpak and Goska communities.
In his welcome remarks, Executive Director Global Peace Development, Mr. Esike Ebruke, said gender violence in Nigeria has devastating impact on the vulnerable population.
Ebruke stressed that gender-based violence, harmful cultural practices, and lack of accountability for perpetrators have continued to dehumanise individuals and hinder access to justice.
The director said despite the existence of VAPP laws in Kaduna and other parts of the country, many individuals remained unaware of their rights and protections available to them under the law, and expressed happiness that the event sought to bridge that gap by increasing knowledge and capacity on the VAPP Law, to promote justice and accountability for victims and survivors.
He admonished on the readiness of the community’s stakeholders, including political and religious leaders, justice and security agent, to address inequality, human rights violations, sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), insecurity, and poverty.
In a discussion session at the program, Barr K.C. Balaso from the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) anchored an interactive discussion on the Kaduna State Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law, established in 2018, focusing on offenses, the application for protection orders, and the role of service providers.
Kafanchan Kewaye, stated that the sensitisation had enabled the general populace to acquire knowledge of understanding violence and its antecedents.
