PLATEAU (Sundiata Post) The Plateau Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Ms Caroline Dafur, says the ministry will ensure full implementation of Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act.
Dafur, who disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Sunday in Jos, said when fully implemented, the VAPP Law would curb the violence against women and the girl-child.
She said the ministry had toured the 17 local government areas (LGAs) of the state, on sensitisation and awareness campaigns against Gender based violence (GBV) and Child trafficking.
She said the sensitisation became imperative, in order to engage critical stakeholders from each LGA to understand their peculiar social challenges.
“We proffered practical and community driven solutions, supported by the government, towards reducing instances of violence of any form against women,” she said.
Dafur said the VAPP Act was clearly explained to the locals; they were educated on how it would protect victims and hold perpetrators accountable for their actions.
Explaining how the ministry intended to ensure effective implementation of the law, the commissioner said that the state now had a functional gender court and commission, which were proactive in handling gender-based cases.
She called on all victims of such violence to take the opportunity being offered by the commission, to seek redress rather than shying away and giving the perpetrators more impetus to carry out their nefarious acts.
The commissioner, said that the ministry was leveraging on Gov. Caleb Mutfwang’s exceptional concern for gender issues and unwavering commitment to social welfare protection, to ensure full implementation of VAPP law.
She said the governor’s vision of advancing the course of women, children, the elderly and vulnerable in the society, would aid the full implementation of the law.
Dafur, however, called for collective efforts of citizens and stakeholders, in restoring sanity to homes and the society, in order to ensure effective and full implementation of the VAPP law. (NAN)
