By Gbenga Adebayo
The Chief Judge of Kwara State, Justice Abiodun Adebara, has called for the collaboration of all stakeholders to achieve success in the fight against sexual and gender-based violence in the state and the country at large.
Justice Adebara made the call while speaking at a one-day roundtable on the implementation of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition, VAPP, Act in Kwara State, organized by the Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre, WARDC, in collaboration with the Kwara State government, with funding from the African Women’s Development Fund, AWDF.
He said the state House of Assembly had enacted the Violence Against Persons Law, marking a significant milestone in the fight against violence, discrimination, and abuse.
According to him, effective implementation of the law requires a coordinated effort among the judiciary, law enforcement agencies, the government, civil society organizations, and the general public.
Justice Adebara explained that each stakeholder plays a vital role in ensuring justice, enforcement, and community support.
The Chief Judge noted that a practice direction would soon be established to provide clear procedural guidelines for handling sexual and gender-based violence cases.
In her address, the Chairman of the Nigerian Law Reform Commission, Professor Jummai Audi, said sexual and gender-based violence remains a serious human rights violation with devastating consequences for survivors.
She emphasized that the judiciary plays a critical role in addressing the injustice by ensuring that survivors experience a legal process that is fair and just.
In her paper presentation, Justice Peace Otti of the Anambra High Court who stated that all hands must be on deck to bring an end to the rising cases of sexual and gender-based violence appealed to lawyers to put in more effort and ensure diligence in the prosecution of abuse cases.
Earlier in her address, the Founding Director of the Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre, WARDC, Dr. Abiola Afolabi, called for the establishment of special courts to adjudicate cases related to sexual and gender-based violence.
