By Ankeli Emmanuel (In Sokoto State)
Sokoto State Ministry for Women and Children Affairs in collaboration with United Nations Population Fund ((UNFPA) with funding from Global Affairs Canada, has organized a two-day workshop for 65 Judges, Magistrates, as well as other law officers, on the effective implementation of Violence Against Person's (VAPP) Prohibition law as passed in the State.
Speaking earlier in her goodwill message, the Commissioner for Women and Children Affairs, Hajiya Kulu Abubakar Sifawa, said she is happy that judges in the State are rallying round them to ensure that not only quality but the speedy dispensation of justice for survivors of Gender-Based Violence (GBV)
The Women Affairs Commissioner who was represented by the acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Hajiya Kulu Nuhu, further appealed to women Judges in the State to be passionate in ensuring that adequate punitive measures are deployed against perpetrators of GBV in the State.
On his part, the State Coordinator of Legal Aid Council, Barrister Shetima, however, appealed to all practitioners of the legal profession to strive towards ensuring that the VAPP law is adhered to. According to him, it is one thing to have the law and another thing to implement its contents with vigor.
Delivering his keynote address, titled, " Making The Best Better", the Sokoto State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Suleiman Usman, SAN, assured that Sokoto has answered the clarion call by not only reviewing its Penal Code to provide stiffer punishments for some major crimes for which rape is involved but have equally presented adequate compensation for survivors.
While re-echoing that rape in Sokoto now attracts life imprisonment since the inception of Tambuwal's administration, the number one law officer of the State said the VAPP, as passed in Sokoto, has other unique clauses that are missing in the national VAPP.
Amongst these inclusions, Suleiman listed them to include provision for compensation to survivors of GBV as well as a referral pathway for survivors of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV)
"Sokoto VAPP law also made provision for SGBV Response Team to enable them to make the best become better," the AG said.
The Sokoto State Attorney General, Suleiman Usman, presented the keynote address in the 2-day workshop organized for Judges, Magistrates and law officers in the State. NNL.
