Hon. Abubakar Y Suleiman, the Speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly has expressed the assembly’s resolve under his stewardship to continue to protect women and other persons against violence.
He made the statement while delivering a welcome address during the opening ceremony of a retreat organized by Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC) for some members of the Bauchi State House of Assembly to discuss extensively on the proposed Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) (VAPP) law for Bauchi State.
According to the Speaker, the law has become expedient, considering the ugly events currently happening in the country and particularly Bauchi state where violence against persons mostly in the form of rape and other forms of violence against women, men and children are becoming the order of the day.
“Worldwide, it has been estimated that violence against women is as serious, a cause of death and incapacity among women of reproductive age as cancer, and a greater cause of ill health as traffic accidents and malaria combined”, he said.
Mr Suleiman further explained that the objective of the bill, when passed into law, is to prevent all forms of violence and discrimination targeted at a particular gender or status.
He added that the bill provides for sanctions as fines, community service and imprisonment, compensations and other corrective measures which he said will further enhance a safe and conducive state where citizens can go about their daily activities without fear of violence in any form.
The Speaker also commended Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC) and their partner African Women Development Fund (AWDF) for organizing the retreat.
