In order to serve as a deterrent and checkmate the menace, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), has called for harsher penalties for rape.
The Director General, Hajiya Binta Bello,
made the call during the close-out event of Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law implementation in Cross River on Monday. The event was organised by Stand to End Rape.
Bello who was represented at the event by the Head of Operations, NAPTIP, Cross River Command, Mr Bello Oba, stressed that rape was a heinous crime against humanity and must be discouraged by penalties against perpetrators.
She urged collective advocacy and efforts to eradicate it through timely reporting, assisting survivors, providing legal services, and awareness campaigns to reduce stigmatisation.
Bello who also appealed for a united front against rape, emphasized NAPTIP’s commitment to combating VAPP Act violators, as well as human traffickers.
The Co-director of Stand to End Rape Initiative, Dr Mercy Kwabe, appreciated Nigeria’s progress and successes in promoting equal rights through the VAPP Act.
She stressed the need for better public understanding of the law, especially in local languages.
Kwabe stressed the importance of amending the VAPP Act to incorporate harsher penalties for perpetrators, rather than repealing it.
The Chairperson of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Cross River Chapter, Ms Ann Awa, who also stressed the need for full implementation of the VAPP Act across states, suggested streamlining controversial sections instead of abolishing the law.
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