The Ondo State Agency Against Gender Based Violence (OSAGBV), in collaboration with the state Chapter of the National Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ, have sensitised residents of the Northern Senatorial District of the State on the importance of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition – VAAP Law.
The sensitization came on the directive of the Chairman of the Agency and wife of the State Governor, Chief Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu with a view to curbing the rate of violence and have a sane society.
Stakeholders which included Traditional rulers, religious leaders among other various groups were sensitised about the VAAP Law in Ondo North Senatorial District of the State who converged on Owo, after the event had earlier been held in Akoko axis. The sensitization meeting will shift to Ondo South Senatorial District next week.
The Ondo state First Lady who was represented at the event by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Gender, Research and Documentation, Mrs Temitope Daniyan, explained, that the purpose for the VAPP-LAW, was to have a more secured society, bring peace to everyone and ensure that everyone sleeps with their two eyes closed.
She added that the VAPP Law in Nigeria provides a legal framework for the protection of all citizens including vulnerable people such as women, men, girls, children, youth, and Persons With Disabilities (PWDs).
The sensitisation meetings which were targeted at grassroots audiences also saw the VAPP-LAW printed in both English and Yoruba languages distributed for better assimilation and understanding.
She described the gesture as one of the giant strides to ensure that every resident in the State live peacefully as contained in the VAPP.
According to her; “We are here in Owo local government to sensitise the stakeholders and also to ensure that the grassroots have good knowledge and understanding of the content of the Ondo State VAPP-Law.
She explained that the law is designed to eliminate violence in private, domestic and public life, prohibits all forms of violence against persons and to provide maximum protection and effective remedies for victims and punishment of the offenders.
According to her, the innovations in the law from Section 3 to 52, give clearer legislation on rape, coercion, indecency, assault, stalking, forced isolation, spousal battery, female circumcision, harmful widowhood practices, to mention but a few.
Breakdown of the offences and penalties are as follow:
Sexual assault; 5 years Imprisonment or N500, 000 fine;
Intimidation: 1 year imprisonment or N100,000 fine;
Spousal Battery: 1 year imprisonment or N100,000, first offender, second offender, 2 years imprisonment or N200,000 fine for serial offender both.
Abandonment of spouse and children with out means of sustenance attracts 2years imprisonment or #500, 000 fine.
Harmful widowhood practice: 5years imprisonment or N200,000. Fine.
Injection from home fine to commit civil action or to pay N300,000 fine
Rape in section 3 carries life imprisonment.
Forced financial dependent or economic abuse, 2 years imprisonment or pay N500,000 fine.
Deprivation of personal Liberty, 1 year imprisonment or pay N100,000 fine.
Danger to property with intent to cause distress, 2 years imprisonment or pay N200,000 fine.
Harmful traditional practice, 4years imprisonment or N500,000 fine.
Incest attracts 10 years imprisonment
Political violence, 5years imprisonment or N2,000,000 fine; while indecent exposure attracts 1 year imprisonment or N300,000 fine.
“lt is important for us to let them know that we already have the law existing in the state, and anyone found wanting in any of the laws mentioned will definitely be prosecuted.
“We want to let everyone know that OSAGVB is life in Akure, it is an agency established by her Excellency to savage every issue causing Gender Based Violence, GBV.
In her contribution, the Executive Secretary for Agency Against Violence, Mrs Afolabi Balance, said the purpose for the meeting, is to sensitise the traditional rulers and religious leaders on the VAPP- LAW that has been passed and accepted in Ondo state.
“We discovered that many people are not aware of what we call VAPP-Law, let alone bringing the law to existence in their communities and this is aimed at helping the people reduce the incidences of gender base violence and as well, let them know that it is a social offense in our society.
“They are going to disseminate the information they have received here to their various communities, palaces and environment”, she stated.
The Chairperson, Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ in Ondo state. Comrade Tola Gbadamosi who described the initiative as laudable, said NAWOJ is at the event to collaborate with OSAGVB to ensure that the information gets to the people in the various communities.
The Chairman Owo local government, Chief Samuel Adegbegi, appreciated appreciate Wife of the Ondo State Governor, Mrs Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu who introduced the VAPP-LAW.
“We will ensure that people in our community abide by the rules and most importantly, parents should ensure they caution their children, that whoever violates the law will never go free”, he said.
Also speaking, Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Owo local government, commended government over the message, saying it would assist to curb gender based violence which is rampant in the society.
Chief Iman of Government House, Yunisa Abdullahi, said the initiative was to ensure that everything against humanity is eradicated and thanked wife of the Governor over her efforts to bring sanity across the state through the VAAP Law.
The Apenusa of Ijebu Land, Mr Adenegan, expressed happiness over the opportunity given to them to have the knowledge of the content of the VAPP-LAW.
Dignitaries who graced the event included; local government LCDAs Chairmen, traditional rulers among others.
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