Activists have raised concerns about the potential repeal of Nigeria’s Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act, fearing it could undo years of progress made in protecting women and vulnerable groups from gender-based violence.
On the International Day of Democracy, Priye Diri, a leader in the Nguvu Collective, warned that repealing the Act would set back efforts to safeguard victims and weaken democratic values in the country.
The VAPP Act, which was enacted in 2015, has been a key tool in addressing gender-based violence (GBV) across Nigeria. Despite challenges like limited jurisdiction and poor enforcement, it has brought some progress, with 34 states adopting the Act.
However, a new bill proposed by Senator Jibrin Isah in 2022 seeks to repeal the VAPP Act, arguing that a more comprehensive legal framework is needed. The proposed bill passed its second reading last month, raising alarms among gender-based violence activists and advocates about the implications the potential repeal would cause.
Diri cautioned:
Since 2015, the VAPP Act has been a critical lifeline for women and vulnerable individuals in Nigeria. It has empowered thousands to report GBV cases, established essential support services, and made tangible progress toward gender justice. Repealing the Act would reverse these advancements, leaving survivors without necessary protections and creating exploitable gaps in the legal system.
Another activist, Durga Nandini, Co-Founder of Nguvu Collective, echoed these concerns, stating:
Why repeal when you can amend? Repealing the Act will undo the decades of progress that gender rights activists in Nigeria made on addressing violence against vulnerable people and will be a major setback for democracy in the country.
Activists argue that amending the Act, rather than repealing it, would allow for necessary improvements while keeping the existing protections in place. They fear that the legislative process to introduce a new law could take time, leaving a dangerous gap in legal protections for victims.
To address these concerns, Diri has launched an online petition urging lawmakers, including Senate Committee Chairman Mohammed Tahir Monguno and Senator Jibrin Isah, to consider amendments instead of a full repeal. The petition calls on Nigerians of all backgrounds to support the continued protection of women and vulnerable individuals.
The push for amendments rather than repeal is seen as a way to preserve the legal framework that has been crucial for survivors of GBV while addressing any shortcomings in the current law.
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