The Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), an NGO, has urged the Edo State government to implement the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act into law in the state.

Dorothy Njemanze, Consultant  to  the Foundation, who made the call at a Focused Group Discussion on  the implementation of the VAPP Act in Edo, on Thursday, said that   gender equality was very important in the society and implementing the VAPP Act would promote the rights of both women and men.

“A National survey is ongoing to know the impact of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act. The peculiarity of Edo State has come up severally, hence we are here to know the impact. We hope that the lapses would be addressed and the law implemented”, she said.

Also, Grace Obakina, Executive Director, Caring Heart Initiative for Advocacy, Development And Empowerment, said that the VAPP law, would help reduce gender-based violence in the state.

“Presently in Edo state, the VAPP law is under review and we are trusting that in a short time we will get messages from the legislative arm of government.

“The only challenge so far, is in the contradictions in the law. This was what birthed the need for it to be reviewed. The challenges we have in the implementation is that the institutions implementing the laws still need strengthening, to enable them carry out their implementation”, she said.

Rosemary Emodogo, Edo Command Chief Intelligence Officer, in the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, observed that the VAPP law had been domesticated by the Edo State Government.

“The law was not implemented because of the flaws found after it came out. They gave out jurisdiction to the Federal High Court, meanwhile, it is a state law, hence the law cannot be implemented.

“It has been sent back to the House of Assembly. By the time it’s put together and jurisdiction is given to Edo State, it will be implemented”, Emodogo added.

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Meanwhile, Nwosu Patricia, Senior Investigation Officer, National Human Rights Commission, said the commission had numerous cases of domestic violence as at 2020, unlike 2021 which is more of abandonment.

“The victims involved in domestic violence are sometimes our major challenge. Sometimes, they settle their issues, after reporting to the authorities, in order to avoid punishment”, she said.