The International Federation of Female Lawyers in Osun has called on defenders of rape victims to ensure that suspects are prosecuted under the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law.
The state coordinator of FIDA, Mrs Damilola Olabiyi, made the call during the quarterly meeting of the Adolescent and Young People’s Health and Development Technical Working Group on Tuesday in Osogbo.
She stressed the need for swift and decisive action in rape cases, urging human rights advocates to insist that the police and other law enforcement agencies file charges under the VAPP Law rather than the Criminal Procedure Law.
According to Olabiyi, the Criminal Procedure Law downplays rape by limiting it to vaginal penetration, leaving several grey areas unaddressed.
“The Criminal Procedure Law limits rape to vaginal penetration. The VAPP Law recognises penetration through the vagina, anus, or mouth and also covers the rape of boys,” she said.
Olabiyi added that acts such as spiking a person’s drink to induce sex are also recognised as rape under the VAPP Law.
She noted that the VAPP Law is a federal legislation adopted by many states, including Osun in 2021, and can be invoked to ensure justice for victims.
The Adolescents Health Desk Officer at the Primary Healthcare Board, Mrs. Roseline Akinlabi, said that the VAPP Law protects everyone, not just women and children.
Akinlabi added that stakeholders had been sensitised to advocate for inclusive programmes that cater to adolescents, including the boy-child, to curb cases of rape and abuse in communities.
Enacted by the Nigerian National Assembly in 2015, the VAPP Act aims to eliminate violence in private and public life, prohibit all forms of violence against persons, and provide maximum protection.
FIDA’s advocacy underscores the urgent need for full enforcement of the law in Osun and beyond to combat impunity, protect vulnerable populations, and foster a safer society for all.
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