‘Don’t just domesticate’ — Tallen advises states to implement VAPP, Child Rights Acts

Pauline Tallen, minister of women’s affairs, says states should not only domesticate the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) and Child Rights Acts but ensure proper implementation.

According to NAN, Tallen said this at the agency’s ministerial forum in Abuja.

The minister said delayed justice is contributing to the surge in gender-based violence cases, adding that some achievements have been recorded in the domestication of the VAPP and Child Rights Acts across the country.

She said 34 states have, so far, domesticated the VAPP Act, while 32 have adopted the Child Rights Act, which will help in reducing cases of GBV and support survivors in the country.

“SGVB still persists because we seem to have a problem with the justice system; justice delayed is justice denied. We are appealing to the justice system to act fast,” she said. 

“Already, international development partners have done so well in the area of ensuring that we have a forensic lab.

“It is the first of its kind in the whole of West Africa, located in Adamawa to help test and verify every specimen of gender-based violence.

“The north-east suffered most in insurgency and Boko Haram issues, and that is why the choice of Adamawa was made to help address the problems we are having due to all forms of violence and rape cases.”

She said successes recorded with the VAPP Act were due to advocacies, adding that “when I assumed office, there were only 12 states that domesticated the VAPP Act”.

“But today, I am proud to say that we have 34 states that have domesticated the VAPP act; we have only two states left and by the grace of God before I leave office, those two states will domesticate the act,” she added.

“The same thing with the Child Rights Act. So far, since I assumed office, we have upscaled the number, we now have 32 states that have domesticated the act, with only four states left. 

“I want to emphasise that it is not all about domesticating these Acts; it is the implementation that is very important.

“When you domesticate a law, and you don’t implement it, it is as good as nothing. So, we are appealing to our governors to ensure that both the VAPP and CRA acts are fully implemented.

“If they are implemented, no child will be on the streets, the girl-child will be in school.

“Without the court passing judgment that will be commensurate with the crime, it will keep reoccurring in our communities. 

“If you cover up a GBV case, you are worsening the situation because you are allowing that child to remain in perpetual agony because the child is dying in silence and a child that is raped can never be the same. 

“It is a mental stigma that remains with the victims all their lives.”

The minister urged the government to use the DNA forensic laboratory established in Adamawa to verify specimens of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV).