Bauchi State in Nigeria commits to implementation of the VAPP Law

UN Women and the UK Government in partnership with the Bauchi State Government launched the Costed Model Action Plan (CMAP) and Inaugurated a technical and advisory committee to implement the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law in Bauchi State, this launch took place on the 30^th of April 2021.

With Bauchi, being the first state in the North East geopolitical zone to domesticate the VAPP Act, the current political commitment to addressing violence against women by the Bauchi State Government, as well as other policy developments around advancing the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda in Bauchi State, provides a strategic opportunity to pilot the establishment of a costed model action plan to enhance the effective implementation of the VAPP Act. 

At the launch, Bauchi State Executive Governor, Mohammed Bala said that Bauchi was the first state to domesticate the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act in the North-east part of the country, pointing out that the implementation of the VAPP law can only be made possible when political will is supported by targeted funding and other resources.

Executive Governor of Bauchi State, Sen. Mohammed Bala officially launching the CMAP in Bauchi State. Photo: UN Women/Olanrewaju Faremi

“Through the costed Model Action plan and the implementation of VAPP law in the state, the government has identified intervention strategies that would have a direct impact on the lives and welfare of the most vulnerable persons in Bauchi state. CMAP is a tool that will help produce results through clearly defined activities and targets by careful costing and Identification of the actors responsible for the successful implementation of the programme and I welcome the publication of the CMAP for implementation of the VAPP law in Bauchi state.” he said.

The Deputy Representative, UN Women in Nigeria, Lansana Wonneh, in his address said the VAPP law represents the core value of the United Nations lamenting that the domestication of the law at the federal level, the process has been very slow across the 36 states of the country.

“This, therefore, means that the process of preventing all forms of violence and discrimination against vulnerable people and every citizen of Nigeria, has not been realised in many parts of Nigeria. However, with the COVID-19 crisis, we also realised that there are increasing levels of violence, particularly the gender-based violence faced by women and girls, and that is precisely the entry point for UN Women,” Wonneh stated.

FCDO Representative Sophie Stevens in her remarks commended the Bauchi State Government on this huge step they have embarked on.

“We believe this sets a foundation for transformational work, for which Bauchi State is embarking on. The Women, Peace and Security agenda, as well as women’s rights are global priorities for the United Kingdom. At a time of alarming insecurities in Nigeria, it is important to say No to violence in all its form. That is why this work for us is so exciting and I believe this CMAP has the potential to transform many lives in Bauchi State and Beyond”.

Speaking at the event, the Speaker Bauchi State House of Assembly, Abubakar Suleiman said that the increasing cases of rape and violence against persons in the state and the nation at large, calls for swift action of the implementation of the VAPP law, adding that the law, which was passed by the State House of Assembly and assented to by the state governor, was because of agitations for the protection of persons against all forms of violence.

Chairperson of the Advisory Committee is the First Lady, Hajiya Aisha Bala Mohammed while members are Commissioners of Women Affairs, Budget and Economic Planning, Health, Justice, Local Govt Affairs; Special Adviser, Multilateral; Special Adviser, Legal Matters; State Chief Judge; Representative of the Commissioner of Police; Representative of the Emir of Bauchi and the Representative of the Secretary to the State Government.

UN Women Nigeria has partnered with the UK Government Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office to implement a project on Strengthening state capacities and women’s participation in COVID response and broader peacebuilding initiatives in Nigeria.