Stakeholders have decried weak and inconsistent implementation of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) (VAPP) Act across states, warning that gaps in enforcement continue to undermine efforts to curb gender-based violence (GBV) in Nigeria.
The concerns were raised yesterday in Abuja at the 30th anniversary of Gender and Development Action (GADA) and a workshop on participatory sharing, learning and adaptation on GBV prevention and accountability.
Participants, including civil society organisations, policymakers and development partners, called for improved understanding and application of the VAPP Act, particularly among law enforcement agencies and justice sector actors.
Executive Director of BraveHeart Initiative for Youth and Women, Priscilla Ikos Usiobaifo, said evidence shows that GBV is more prevalent in rural communities, where poor awareness of human rights limits victims’ ability to seek justice.
She noted that while awareness campaigns are helping communities understand their rights, weak institutional response remains a major challenge.
Usiobaifo stressed the need for prompt and thorough investigation of cases and effective prosecution, adding that civil society organisations are supporting survivors through legal and psychosocial services.
She, however, expressed concern that despite the domestication of the VAPP Act in several states, many cases are still being prosecuted under outdated criminal laws.
Founder of GADA and former Nigerian Ambassador to Ethiopia and Djibouti, Nkoyo Toyo, said that although significant progress has been made over the past three decades, gaps persist due to weak institutions and shifting social norms.
