WUNRN
Nigeria - Violence Against
Persons Prohibition Bill Becomes Law
25 May 2015 - President Goodluck Jonathan,
this afternoon, passed the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) bill
into law. The new law prohibits female circumcision or genital
mutilation, forceful ejection from home and harmful widowhood practices. It
prohibits abandonment of spouse, children and other dependents without
sustenance, battery and harmful traditional practices.
This is after the Senate had on May 5 2015,
passed the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act 2015 into law.
Special Adviser to the President on Media and
Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, confirmed the development.
The VAPP provides a legislative and legal
framework for the prevention of all forms of violence against vulnerable
persons, especially women and girls. This is a happy ending for a 14 year
advocacy and passed through the three regimes of the National Assembly.
The law also prohibits economic abuse, forced
isolation and separation from family and friends, substance attack, depriving
persons of their liberty, incest, indecent exposure, among others. It also
intends to eliminate violence in private and public life and provide maximum
protection and effective remedies for victims of violence, and punishment of
offenders.