New VAPP law: My take on it ~ Chimezie Anajama.

"The Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has signed two bills recently passed by the National Assembly into law. The new Acts are; the Violence against Persons (Prohibition) Act 2015 and the Immigration Act 2015.

Presidential spokesman, Reuben Abati confirmed the development to State House correspondents.
The Senate had on May 4 passed the Violence against Persons (Prohibition) Act 2015 into law. The Act seeks to prohibit female circumcision or genital mutilation, forceful ejection from home and harmful widowhood practices.’

It also prohibits abandonment of spouse, children and other dependents without sustenance, battery and harmful traditional practices in the country".

Source: Voice of Nigeria.

For some weeks now, i have been angry, mad, pissed and boiling. Someone i so very much care about became a victim of violence against persons. The worst thing is i couldn't do anything about it. I had no spunk to deal with her perpetrator. Not only that there were some social questions, but i also knew there was no law backing the prosecution of her abuse. There was no law to fight for her. Maybe that is why i am soo happy this evening hearing about the new VAPP law. Maybe that is why i can't wait till tomorrow to blog this article. Pres. Jonathan, among his many wrongs this last week, has just made my evening with this news.

So many women and men can now go to court to seek redress for all the violent abuses they will be inflicted upon in the future. That housewife, always battered, can not only ask for separation, but can now ask for welfare money and trial of the husband; those inlaws inflicting a widow with some ridiculous and obnoxious traditions can now be tried in a court.

The adolescent girl-child can now grow in peace without fearing if blade will be used on her vagina in the name of circumcision by an old woman.

This is a victory to those that believe in the dignity of genders. To those advocates that carried placards under the rain and sun; those that has been fighting with their pens and papers; those that has gone into the field to talk with these abused Nigerians.

This is a victory for everybody that abhors violence of any nature. This shows how closer we are to upholding our sanity in the Nigeria; our collective resolve against violence, be it in the home or outside the home.

Truth, getting victims to talk about violence that happens in the home or with relatives can be irksome, considering the "blood is thicker than water" syndrome or the marital "for better for worse", but there are victims that are still willing to talk or get justice for their injustice, and the signing of this bill into law don't just mean victory, but hope and protection from the government for them. They can now DEMAND for justice.

I can tell you there is nothing as sweet as empowering a victim with the power to DEMAND for justice.

I just want to say a great KUDOS to all the advocates that fought for this. I am already hearing whispers of fear of its implementation. All i will say is this:

There was fear of this being accepted in First Reading, it scaled through; second reading, it scaled through; other processes and reviews, it scaled through; assenting it; it finally scaled through. So why would implementing it not be done if all the advocates continue in this pace?

The most important thing is this: Be vigilant; write as if you never written; cry as if you never cried; call for international attention as never before; and with God that judges everyone fairly, it must be achieved. Something must CHANGE. We are about to enter into that era in some days coming.

This is my two cents on the VAPP law.

Photo credit:

TCD photography for RAW campaign

Via Bellanaija