By Correspondent in Lokoja.
The Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello,has signed the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Bill into law.
The Secretary to Kogi State Government, Dr. Folashade Arike Ayoade, made the disclosure to journalists on Monday in Lokoja.
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Our Correspondent reports that no fever than 32 states ohave so far signed the the bill into law.
Speaking on the signing of the VAPP bill on Monday, the Chairman of the VAPP Bill Steering Committee, Mike Abu, maintained that the bill had all it takes to protect citizens against violence of any kind.
Abu commended Eunice Abimbola Agbogun, Executive Director, Challenged Parenthood Initiatives, (CPI) for sponsoring the bill, adding that, through her painstaking efforts, the bill was signed by the State Assembly.
He further thanked members of the State Steering Committee for their efforts in advocating the signing into law the VAPP bill.
“The law in summary seeks to protect Women and Children and other person’s under the perpetrators care, destitute and without any means of subsistence.
“It looks at the circumcision of the girl-child or women, civil proceedings, damage to properly, use of dangerous weapons, domestic relationship and economic abuse.
” The law looks at emotional, verbal and psychological abuse, forced isolation from family and friends.
The law equally looks at sexual assault, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and sexual intimidation.
“The VAPP Bill also seeks to protect against violence in public sphere which includes wrongful arrest and detention, use of force without lawful authority, unlawful entry into premises or demolition of property without due processes.
“The law seeks to protect against rape and defines rape as intentional penetration, without consent and when consent is obtained by force”.
