Stand To End Rape Initiative Commends The
Adamawa State Government for Assenting The VAPP Act
With the passage of the Violence Against Person’s Prohibition (VAPP) Act in 2015 at the federal level
by the then President of Nigeria, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, Adamawa State House of Assembly also
adopted the bill for enforcement within the state.
The VAPP Act eliminates violence in private and
public life and all forms of violence against persons in the state.
With support from the joint EU-UN Spotlight Initiative, in February 2021, Stand To End Rape Initiative
(STER) engaged relevant stakeholders, including Honourable Kate Raymond Mamuno, who
championed the bill before the House, on the urgency of adopting the VAPP Bill.
In March 2021, the bill was passed. In the same month, STER held a capacity building workshop for state and non-state
actors, community leaders, religious leaders, disability rights groups, women and youth-led groups,
the Nigerian Police Force, Ministries of Justice and Health, media advocates and other Civil Society
Organisations on the implementation of the VAPP Law and strategies to employ to enlighten the
grassroots on the awareness of the provisions of the VAPP Act.
STER adopted a homegrown, sustainable approach to sensitise community members on the
provisions of the Law, their rights and the urgency of implementing the VAPP Law in Adamawa state.
Commenting on the assent of the VAPP Law in Adamawa state, Ms Oluwaseun Ayodeji Osowobi,
Executive Director, STER, said, “we are indeed pleased with the action taken by the Adamawa State
Governor, His Excellency Ahmadu Umaru Finitiri”.
“The assent of the bill into law recognises sexual
and gender-based violence as a criminal offence and gives hope and healing to survivors of sexual
and gender-based violence”.
“We implore all relevant stakeholders to enforce the law in ensuring
the safety and wellbeing of people living in Adamawa State, most especially, women and girls.”
At STER, we remain committed to bringing change and enforceable policies on sexual and
gender-based violence. We would continue to push for sensitising society on the importance of
eliminating all forms of sexual abuse through our vast resources, prevention mechanisms and
capacity building programs.
For further enquiries, please get in touch with us at contactus@standtoendrape.org or
+2348095967000.
About Stand To End Rape Initiative (STER)
Stand To End Rape Initiative (STER) is a youth-led social justice organisation changing community
perception of sexual violence and gender inequality through prevention mechanisms and response
to sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in all spheres within Nigeria.
Stand to End Rape Initiative