NGO organizes workshop for magistrates, law enforcement officers on application of VAPP laws

A Non-Governmental Organisation, Ikra foundation for women and youth development has organized workshop for Magistrates, Legal Practitioners and law enforcement officers on application of Violence Against Persons prohibition (VAPP) law in Bauchi state.

WikkiTimes reports that the VAPP law was recently promulgated by the state house assembly and signed by the state governor Bala Mohammmed into law.

The workshop for the magistrates and law enforcement officers on VAPP law was supported by the United Nations Population Fund(UNFPA), project funded by Global Affairs Canada and implemented by Ikra Foundation.

Mrs Amina Garuba, the Executive Director of the foundation, while speaking at the opening ceremony of the training workshop on Saturday in Bauchi, said the training becomes imperative as the VAPP law was gazetted.

She said magistrates ,law enforcement officers and legal officers are important in implementing the VAPP law, hence the training.

Garuba explained that the VAPP law is to prohibit all forms of violence, physical, sexual ,psychological, domestic and harmful traditional practices.

“Discrimination against persons and to provide maximum protection and effective remedies for victims and punishment offenders of 2020.

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“We also present the gazetted copy of the VAPP law to the Attorney General of the state for onward comprehension and implementation,” she said.

She called on the state ministry for Justice to establish a gender desk office that will handle the issues of gender and sexual based violence (GSBV).

“We are calling for the establishment of a gender desk in the ministry of Justice to enable the public to come in with cases,” Garuba said.

Responding on behalf of the participants, Mrs Fatima Jibrin, the state Director Magistrate, expressed their appreciation for bringing them together on the implementation of VAPP law.

Jibrin noted the need for involving the magistrates in the law enactment process to avoid any possible gap.

She assured that magistrates in the state would harmonise implementation and application of the state laws.