The Speaker of the House of Representatives Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila has met with Speakers of State houses of assembly in a bid to ensure that all states in the Country domesticate the Child Rights Act and the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act.
This follows a commitment made by the Speaker two weeks ago when he met with some civil society organisations over the rising cases of sexual and gender-based violence across the country.
The meeting, conducted via zoom, was moderated by the Chairman of the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Adewunmi Onanuga, with the Speakers of Bauchi, Ekiti, Delta, Edo and Plateau states, among others, in attendance.
In his opening address, Gbajabiamila said the meeting was convened to address the problem of sexual and gender-based violence.
In his contribution, the Speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, Mr. Abubakar Suleiman, who is also the chairman of the North-East States’ Speakers, said the VAPP Act is currently at public hearing stage in the state.
It was then resolved at the zoom meeting that he should lead in soliciting the commitment of the other states in the North to emulate his actions reviewing the two laws and domesticating them according to their local context.
The state assemblies are to also work with some members of the House of Representatives from states where the acts are yet to be domesticated for regular updates on the progression of the two Acts in their respective states.
It was resolved further that the Office of the Speaker, relevant House Committees and government agencies such as NAPTIP, NHRC, Police will provide technical support to state legislatures in amending the two Acts to suit local circumstances to ensure timely consideration.
Another resolution reached was that the House would work with state legislatures to sensitize key response actors and consider other protective laws as well as strengthen existing government agencies that have the mandate to protect and prosecute perpetrators of heinous crimes of SGBV in all forms.
Similarly, it was resolved that Speaker Gbajabiamila would next week send the resolutions arrived at in a letter to all state legislatures that are yet to domesticate the VAPP Act and CRA to reflect the urgency of the matter.
Insightnaijatv
The Speaker of the House of Representatives Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila has met with Speakers of State houses of assembly in a bid to ensure that all states in the Country domesticate the Child Rights Act and the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act.
This follows a commitment made by the Speaker two weeks ago when he met with some civil society organisations over the rising cases of sexual and gender-based violence across the country.
The meeting, conducted via zoom, was moderated by the Chairman of the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Adewunmi Onanuga, with the Speakers of Bauchi, Ekiti, Delta, Edo and Plateau states, among others, in attendance.
In his opening address, Gbajabiamila said the meeting was convened to address the problem of sexual and gender-based violence.
In his contribution, the Speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, Mr. Abubakar Suleiman, who is also the chairman of the North-East States’ Speakers, said the VAPP Act is currently at public hearing stage in the state.
It was then resolved at the zoom meeting that he should lead in soliciting the commitment of the other states in the North to emulate his actions reviewing the two laws and domesticating them according to their local context.
The state assemblies are to also work with some members of the House of Representatives from states where the acts are yet to be domesticated for regular updates on the progression of the two Acts in their respective states.
It was resolved further that the Office of the Speaker, relevant House Committees and government agencies such as NAPTIP, NHRC, Police will provide technical support to state legislatures in amending the two Acts to suit local circumstances to ensure timely consideration.
Another resolution reached was that the House would work with state legislatures to sensitize key response actors and consider other protective laws as well as strengthen existing government agencies that have the mandate to protect and prosecute perpetrators of heinous crimes of SGBV in all forms.
Similarly, it was resolved that Speaker Gbajabiamila would next week send the resolutions arrived at in a letter to all state legislatures that are yet to domesticate the VAPP Act and CRA to reflect the urgency of the matter.
Insightnaijatv
