The Plateau Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Caroline Dafur, says the ministry will ensure full implementation of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act.

Ms Dafur, who disclosed this in an interview on Sunday in Jos, said when fully implemented, the VAPP Law would curb the violence against women and the girl-child.

She said the ministry had toured the 17 local government areas (LGAs) of the state on sensitisation and awareness campaigns against Gender-based violence (GBV) and child trafficking.

Ms Dafur said sensitisation became imperative to engage critical stakeholders from each LGA and understand their peculiar social challenges.

“We proffered practical and community-driven solutions, supported by the government, towards reducing instances of violence of any form against women,” she said.

Mr Dafur said the VAPP Act was clearly explained to the locals; they were educated on how it would protect victims and hold perpetrators accountable for their actions.

Explaining how the ministry intended to ensure effective implementation of the law, the commissioner said the state now had a functional gender court and commission, which were proactive in handling gender-based cases.

She called on all victims of such violence to take the opportunity being offered by the commission to seek redress rather than shying away and giving the perpetrators more impetus to carry out their nefarious acts.

The commissioner said the ministry was leveraging Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s exceptional concern for gender issues and unwavering commitment to social welfare protection to ensure full implementation of VAPP law.

She said the governor’s vision of advancing the course of women, children, the elderly and the vulnerable in society would aid the full implementation of the law.

However, Ms Dafur called for the collective efforts of citizens and stakeholders to restore sanity to homes and society to ensure effective and full implementation of the VAPP law. 

(NAN)