The SGBV Justice Network (SJN) Cluster in collaboration with the USAID funded Strengthening Civic Advocacy and Local Engagement (SCALE) project, has expressed commitment to consolidating advocacy efforts to ensure the prompt and effective resolution of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) cases in the community.
Addressing a press conference amidst the global campaign of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, and the urgent need for effective justice delivery for survivors of SGBV in Kaduna State, the acting executive director of Legal Awareness for Nigerian Women (LAWN) Mrs Hannatu Ahuwan said the SGBV Justice Network, stand united in pursuit of justice for survivors of SGBV and the protection of their rights.
She stressed that to achieve effective justice delivery for survivors of SGBV, there must be an enhanced and efficient implementation of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law (VAPPL) and the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) in Kaduna State.
According to her, the VAPPL and ACJL laws serve as powerful tools in this endeavour, offering a framework to address and prevent acts of violence against persons, especially women and vulnerable populations, adding that Kaduna State has taken significant steps by enacting these crucial legislations.
She stated however, that the effectiveness of these laws relies heavily on their implementation. “The Kaduna State Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law prohibits all forms of violence against any person and prescribes penalties for perpetrating any of the rights therein,” she said.
She also noted that some of the issues identified by stakeholders that impede access to justice on SGBV include but not limited to less penalties for offences in the VAPP law than in the Penal Code thereby leading to prosecutors not applying the VAPP law for charging SGBV cases.
The SJN therefore called upon all relevant stakeholders – government bodies, law enforcement agencies, legal practitioners, civil society organisations, the private sector and the community at large – to join hands in ensuring a robust and swift implementation of the VAPPL and ACJL in ensuring justice delivery for survivors of SGBV.
It also called for the implementation of the VAPP and ACJ laws to provide justice for survivors and punishment for perpetrators in line with provisions of the laws, and for prosecutors to apply the VAPP law in prosecution of other GBV cases.
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