GBV: Oyetola Unveils VAPP Law 2021 document..... the law is targeted to end upsurge in cases of violence against women and girls

By Abisola Ariwodola,

Wife of the Governor, Mrs Kafayat Oyetola base on her intent of ending Gender Based Violence has launched Violence Against Persons Prohibition VAPP law document in Osun state. 

This is as the chief launcher, the first lady, Mrs Kafayat Oyetola affirmed that the VAPP law is targeted to end upsurge in cases of violence against women and girls.

At the document launch made in collaboration with Westminster Foundation for Democracy at the Banquet Hall of the government house during a press briefing, Mrs Oyetola stressed that the law is to fill the gap in the legal instruments available to confront some of the gender based violence in the society, with the laws designed to tackle the issue of violence against women and girls as well as for men who also suffer gender and domestic violence in some forms.

The first lady who is the Chairperson of Southern Governors Wives forum, used the medium to appreciate the Osun state house of Assembly under the leadership of Rt. Hon Timothy Owoeye for the domestication of the VAPP law, as well as for support and advocacy on sexual and gender based violence in their various constituencies to influence behavior change in the communities.

(Osun wife of Governor Mrs Kafayat Oyetola, center, flanked by (from left), Wife of Secretary to the State Government Mrs Abosede Oyebamiji, Westminster Foundation for Democracy Representative Mrs Sola Folayan, Chairman House Committee on Women and Children Affairs Hon Mulikat Jimoh, DG OSBC Mr Rasheed Folaranmi and Wife of the Head of Service Barrister Mrs Kikelomo Oyebade at the unveiling of the VAPP law 2021 document, held at the banquet hall of the government house in Osogbo today.)

At the unveiling, chosen to mark the 16 days of activism against Gender Based Violence, the Osun First lady who also double as the President of IleriOluwa Development Initiative revealed that the VAPP bill was made more comprehensive to cover additional issues such as substance use and abuse in order to inflict Sexual and Gender Based Violence SGBV and judicial protection of victims of SGBV against publicity. 

She listed the issues covered by the Violence Against Persons Prohibition VAPP law to include rape, causing of physical injury to persons, female genital mutilation, causing fear to persons, false statements against persons, isolation and abandonment of spouses, children and dependents, spousal battery, political violence, child labour, among others. 

Mrs Oyetola, the Chairperson of OSUNWA added that the judiciary and law enforcement agency are ready to prosecute any Gender Based Violence offender, hinged further that the VAPP law is expansive on abandonment of children, spouses among the knowledge that it covers of forms of violence cases.

She urged the press to collaborate in ensuring that the VAPP law reign supreme to eliminate every form of violence in Osun state, Mrs Oyetola added that violence against persons, women, girls, boys and men in Osun should be eliminated and prevented completely.

The first lady further advocated that 'we do not want violence at homes, between intimate partners, during political campaigns and elections, or at any time at all, she called on stakeholders to join the campaign and make the state a violence free state, as she commended her husband Governor Adegboyega Oyetola for the commitment and dedication of his administration to better life and unprecedented priority placed on the welfare and interest of women in the state.

In her goodwill message, the Representative of Westminster Foundation for Democracy, Mrs Sola Folayan commended the Wife of the Governor, Mrs Kafayat Oyetola, the government, State house of Assembly and other stakeholders that supports democracy in all ramification.

Highlighting the objective of Westminster Foundation for Democracy as giving support to women, vulnerable and marginalized groups against violence, she applauded that campaign on ending gender based violence, she added that public enlightenment is a good way to start the implementation of the law, by informing people about the new dawn of the VAPP document.

Other dignitaries at the document launch made before press men include, Chairman House Committee on Women and Children Affairs Hon Mulikat Jimoh wife of the Secretary to the state government Mrs Abosede Oyebamiji, wife of Head of Service Barrister Mrs Kikelomo Oyebade, and Director General Osun state Broadcasting Corporation OSBC Mr Rasheed Folaranmi.