…Identify lapses in VAPP, state laws
From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has secured the buy-in of state governments particularly the officials involved in the fight against human trafficking as well as Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBVs).
NAPTIP said it recognizes the importance of State governments and some other relevant stakeholders in fight against SGBVs, hence the periodic engagements with the officials of the Ministries of Women and Gender Affairs or as the case may be, from the states in discussions on the successes and challenges being experienced in the fight against human trafficking and SGBVs.
Director General of NAPTIP, Prof. Fatima Waziri–Azi, who spoke to journalists at the 2023 State Level Coordination Meeting in Abuja, reaffirmed the commitment of NAPTIP to the fight against human trafficking and SGBVs as contained in the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law.
She explained that the 2023 State Level Coordination Meeting was designed to bring together, officials at state levels as well as well relevant stakeholders, to engage in critical analysis of the situation in their states vis-a-vis the challenges and successes.
She said: “Participants are expected to freely express themselves on their experiences so far as regards the fight against human trafficking and SGBVs, and I am happy they are doing that and we are all learning from their various contributions.
“NAPTIP is responsible for the implementation of VAPP Law but state governments and relevant stakeholders also have significant roles to play in complementing our efforts. So far, 34 states have domesticated the VAPP Law putting into consideration, the peculiarities of their States. This has resulted in different versions of the VAPP.
“However, there is need to have a proper coordination of the response against human trafficking and SGBVs even though the trends are similar. We often discourage working in silos because doing that would be counterproductive. Working in silos exposes victims the more, hence we need to work together to ensure we achieve the needed result which is to ensure justice for victims of SGBVs.
“We recently conducted gap analysis on the VAPP law and the ones domesticated by the states. The outcome of the analysis would be presented to stakeholders for their critique and input, all geared towards having a better working document.
“But in all, VAPP Law provides a template to guide the states in the fight against SGBVs even though it has some gaps which will be corrected at the right time.”
Meanwhile, representatives from different states made presentations on their successes and also highlighted challenges being experienced in the fight against SGBVs in their various states, thus soliciting the support of NAPTIP and other federal government agencies towards the fight against SGBVs.
Onyinye Joy Mama, Enugu State Sub-Committee chairperson for SGBV survivors’ welfare and support, appreciated NAPTIP for such meeting that often encourage exchange of ideas and experiences among people involved in the fight against human trafficking and SGBVs.
She said that knowledge and various inputs from the participants would go a long way in strengthening their capacity in the fight against human trafficking. “There’s need for cross-fertilization of ideas among us that are involved in the fight against SGBVs. Though the trends of SGBVs are almost similar across board but there are some little differences which requires additional knowledge and skills to tackle”
She, thus solicited the support and commitment of the state government officials as well as the law enforcement officials particularly the Police to the cause of the fight, so there can be reasonable success achieved.