Imo Police, Stakeholders Urged to Uphold State VAPP Law to Prosecute Gender-based Violence, Sexual Harassment

ThankGod EMEH…

Men and Officers of the Nigerian Police Force are charged to be critically in tune with provisions of the Imo state Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law (VAPP law) 2021 as a legal framework in addressing all forms of Gender violence and abuse across boards including sexual harassment in tertiary institutions.

A Civil society organization; Alliances for Africa (AFA) in partnership with Co-Impact and Imo State Committee on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (ISCEVAWG) gave the charge in a One-day Training held in Owerri, on Friday, October 4, 2024, to Increase the Knowledge of the Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) and Gender Unit of the Nigerian Police On Imo VAPP law 2021.

According to the organizers of the workshop, the training is aimed at “strengthening the capacity of Police officers by equipping them with in-depth knowledge and understanding of Gender-Based Violence (GBV), to effectively address, investigate and prosecute GBV cases including sexual harassment”.

The Civil society organizations also noted that the programme would further help “to develop and implement strategies within the Police Force to improve the support and protection of victims, with a focus on enhancing reporting mechanisms and creating a more survivor-centered approach…”

Declaring the event open, the Imo state Commissioner of Police, CP Aboki Danjuma represented by the State Deputy Commissioner of Police in-charge of Administration, DCP Hamman Joda Barka said the “Imo VAPP law is a critical law that affects the safety, dignity, and well-being of many in the society”, decrying that “violence, in any form, is an affront to human rights”, hence the training would strengthen the Police officer’s collective resolve in addressing
it.

Imo State Deputy Commissioner of Police in-charge of Administration, DCP Hamman Joda Barka

CP Danjuma added that the “VAPP law is a landmark legal framework that offers
comprehensive protection for victims of various forms of violence, including physical, emotional, and sexual abuse.

CP Aboki Danjuma, Imo state Commissioner of Police

“It is a law that champions justice,
accountability, and the dignity of every individual, particularly the most vulnerable in our communities. Understanding this law is not only for legal practitioners, law enforcement
officers, and service providers but also for the broader society to ensure that its provisions are effectively implemented and that survivors of violence receive the support they deserve”, CP Danjuma explained.

In her address, the Imo VAPP Law Sponsor and former member of the Imo State House of Assembly, Amb. Uju Onwudiwe stressed that the law is for everybody and has no gender discrimination as was earlier misconstrued across the state hence she called for the VAPP law to be thoroughly followed to the letter to avoid lapses for the offenders, noting that the law was enacted to serve full justice to survivors and as well serve as a deterrent to offenders.

Hon. Amb. Uju Onwudiwe

Hon. Onwudiwe extolled the state Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, for signing the Imo VAPP law of 2021 while commending AFA, Imo Commissioner of Police, CP Aboki Danjuma, for their contributions to ensure the integration, implementation, and enforcement of the law.

The Police Public Relations Officer of Imo Police Command, ASP Henry Okoye, expressed delight over the all-important workshop, thanked AFA for their impact, adding that the training which is part of the Imo CP’s initiative to further improve the professional competence and capacity of the officers and men of Imo Police Command “will assist officers and men; Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers to have a deepened understanding of the Imo state VAPP law and how to investigate violence cases”.

Imo Police Command PPRO, ASP Henry Okoye

The PPRO, however, assured the general public of improved implementation and enforcement of the Imo VAPP law 2021, noting that officers shall be more effective in investigating GBV cases going forward and hence calling on all Imolites to report all cases of such.

Speaking earlier, the Programmes Director of Alliances for Africa, AFA, Mrs Blessing Duru said the Imo VAPP law is holistic and comprehensive enough to help the Police curb all manner of violence against women and girls.

Mrs Blessing Duru

Mrs Duru stressed that the Police is the only agency assigned in the VAPP law to prosecute GBV cases hence the significance of the workshop to bring key Police officers up to speed with the legal provisions therein to address bottlenecks of enforcement while adding that lots of awareness campaigns are ongoing to educate the public on the dangers of gender-based violence among other issues.

She added that religious leaders and Traditional rulers, as well as the Judiciary system, are not left out in the dot-connecting process to ensure a gender-based-violence-free society.

Meanwhile, the Traditional Ruler of Umuororonjo Community, in Owerri Municipality, Eze Clinton Uboegbulam commended the Police on their good jobs in society while urging them to handle all GBV case with seriousness using the Imo VAPP Law 2021 as legal framework for the offence, noting that the provisions are enormous to aid enforcement.

Drawing an overview of Gender-based violence in the state about the encapsulating provisions of the Imo VAPP law, Barr. Calistus Ihejiagwa stressed that any gender can be abused and harassed sexually, adding that gone are the days when males shy away from complaints of rape and abuse while calling on the Police to put up a human face when handling the cases.

Barr. Calistus Ihejiagwa

Barr. Ihejiagwa emphasized that the law has made trial less cumbersome for GBV cases among others as it creates room for precise enforcement of the VAPP Law other than using related criminal codes.

“Any penetration of the mouth, vagina or anus not only with the penis but with any object including finger is an act of rape whether male or female”

“The VAPP law also addressed harmful traditional practices such as widowhood practices among others”