By Ngozi Nwankwo
Director General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, Binta Adamu Bello, has promised a strong bite, increased prosecution of sex offenders, and proactive implementation of the provisions of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act, 2015 to enhance the protection of Nigerians from issues of Sexual and Gender based violence.
Bello gave the promise at the Agency’s Headquarters, Abuja, while speaking on the 10th year anniversary of the passage of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (VAPP), 2015.
She said the agency has successfully secured 25 convictions of perpetrators, including two life imprisonment sentences of high-profile individuals in Nigeria, with over 1557 cases in courts and provided support to over 5000 survivors through shelters, legal aid, psychosocial services, and reintegration programs.
The Director General, who hailed the efficacy of the Act, said, “Today marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s journey towards a just, inclusive, and violence-free society. The Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act, signed into law in 2015, is 10 years old. This landmark legislation remains one of Nigeria’s most comprehensive legal frameworks for the protection of human rights, especially for women, children, and other vulnerable groups.
“As the Director General of NAPTIP, I am immensely proud to announce a decade of impactful implementation of the VAPP Law, which has been domesticated and gazetted by 32 states across Nigeria.
“Over the past 10 years, we have raised the bar for justice and given voice to the voiceless, empowering survivors of violence to seek redress. We have protected the vulnerable, restored dignity to victims, and enhanced support systems for survivors of abuse. We have contributed to the restoration of peace and harmony in homes, communities, and institutions affected by gender-based violence”, he added.
