Ngozi Felix, commissioner for women affairs and poverty alleviation in Abia, says the state government is taking steps to ensure full implementation of the violence against persons prohibition (VAPP) law.
NAN reports that Felix spoke on Thursday during a workshop organised by the Girl Child Art Foundation (GCAF), a non-profit organisation (NGO), held in Umuahia, Abia’s capital.
The VAPP Act was signed into law by former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015.
It is a law that criminalises sexual gender-based violence (SGBV), harmful practices (HP) and violence against women and girls (VAWG).
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The commissioner who was represented by Ngozi Nkuche, director of child development in the ministry, said the law was signed in the state by the previous administration in October 2020.
She said the government is partnering with NGOs and other relevant stakeholders to create awareness about the VAPP law and punishment for offenders.
She raised concern over the alarming rate of sexual assault and rape against women and girls.
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The commissioner urged survivors of rape and sexual abuse to report the case to the ministry or relevant authorities.
In November 2022, Pauline Tallen, former minister of women affairs, said significant progress has been recorded as 34 states of the federation have domesticated the VAPP law.
Recently, cases of sexual abuse and violence against women and girls have been on the rise.
In Kano, one Garzali Murtala, a 20-year-old man was arrested for allegedly attempting to rape a 13-year-old girl in Rimingado LGA of the state.
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In Ogun, a mathematics teacher in a secondary school reportedly raped two girls in Abeokuta, the state’s capital.
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