FG Decries Low Conviction Rate of Sexual Violence Offenders

FG Decries Low Conviction Rate of Sexual Violence Offenders
  •  Tasks governors on implementation of VAPP Act

Alex Enumah in Abuja

The federal government has decried the low rate of conviction in the number of persons found guilty of sexual violence offences in the country.

Consequently, it has called on the 36 states of the federation including the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to ensure the implementation of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP), 2015.

The stakeholders made the call at a public presentation of the 2020 report of the Implementation of the VAPP Act, 2015.

In her speech, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Pauline Tallen, while commending some states that have domesticated the VAPP Act, said they would do well to ensure that the said Act is implemented in their states so as to reduce the menace of sexual violence particularly against the vulnerable in the society.

She said: “As at today, 27 states have domesticated the VAPP, six others awaiting assent by the respective state governors, bringing the number to 33. It is not about domestication but ensuring that the laws are properly implemented.”

She also advocated the publishing of the names and photographs of all sexual offenders in the various states to serve as detterent to others.

Tallen further called on victims of sexual and other forms of violence to come forward and report cases, adding that parents, guardians and we’ll meaning Nigerians should break the culture of silence which have been encouraging perpetrators to continue in the criminal act.

She however lamented that “out of the thousands of sexual violence cases reported, only less than one per cent have been convicted”, adding that the law enforcement agencies should rise up to the occasion and help eradicate the menace from the country.

In her welcome, the Director General of NAPTIP, Dr. Fatima Waziri-Azi, called for a coordinated effort of all stakeholders so as to effectively address issues of gender-based violence.

“Our thinking on these issues must be dynamic and versatile. The challenges continue to evolve and even mutate with the social pressures and conditions of
every passing day,” she said.

Waziri-Azi noted while commending partners in the fight against gender-based violence that “as at today, 573 cases have been uploaded onto the database, 78 convictions, 320 cases pending in court and 173 cases are under investigation”.

She stated that NAPTIP will continue to work assiduously to enhance the VAPP implementation in the FCT, having established a VAPP Department to handle all cases of sexual and gender-based violence in the FCT last September.

“We are stepping up our efforts by applying 24 hours all hands-on-deck approach to all SGBV cases to ensure that no one falls through the cracks.

“And to enhance the rapid response of all cases, the Rapid Response Unit is now domiciled in my office (Office of the DG). The Unit reports directly to me, curbing any bottlenecks that may slow down the traction of their work. The unit handles the timely rescue of survivors, amongst others,” she added.

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