- By Okechukwu Keshi Ukegbu
Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy and Development, (FENRAD) has strongly demanded the Abia State House of Assembly to expedite actions for speedy domestication of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, (VAPP Act, 2015) as a state law.
The group explained that the demand became expedient from events spilling from the lockdown which it says has triggered Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and domestic violence, mostly against women and girls (minors).
FENRAD in a statement by its Executive Director, Nnanna Nwafor, opines that that violent activities” increased by folds during the recently eased lockdown most of which were not documented, even unreported across the federation”.
Part of the statement reads”the spate of sexual harassment, assault, violence, and abuse calls for serious concern, even immediate response.
“The tragic rape and murder of two female undergraduates: Miss Vera Omozuwa, a 22-year-old student of Microbiology with University of Benin and Miss Barakat Bello, an 18-year-old student of Science Laboratory Technology with University of Ibadan, both of which occurred on May 27, 2020 and June 1, 2020 respectively, brought the issue of rape and violence to the fore”.
The group therefore commends the governor of the state, Okezie Ikpeazu(PhD) for joining the rest 35 state governors in declaring a “state of emergency” on rape.
It also enjoined the House to take the lead in the crusade against sexual and gender-based violence or domestic violence.
According to United Nations Population Funds,”violence against women and girls is one of the most prevalent human rights violations in the world. It knows no social, economic or national boundaries. Worldwide, an estimated one in three women will experience physical or sexual abuse in her lifetime”.
The body further explains that gender-based violence undermines the health, dignity, security and autonomy of its victims, yet it remains shrouded in a culture of silence, adding that victims of violence can suffer sexual and reproductive health consequences, including forced and unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortions, traumatic fistula, sexually transmitted infections including HIV, and even death”.
