Critical stakeholders in Imo State have called on the state governor, Sen. Hope Uzodimma to urgently establish a regulatory body, to be known as Agency to help ensure the effective implementation of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition, VAPP law in the State.
They insisted that the Agency, a requisite for full implementation of Law which was signed by the current state governor, Sen. Hope Uzodimma in 2021, when established would help address rate of child abuse and stealing, human trafficking, rape, wife bartering, among other gender based violence in the state.
Speaking during a one-day strategic meeting with key stakeholders, held in Owerri, the Director in the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Dr. Blessing Azubuike said the program was anchored by the Ministry in partnership with Alliances for Africa, AfA.
She hinted “the objective of the stakeholders meeting was to develop a road map and strategies towards establishing the Agency that will ensure the speedy implementation of the Imo State VAPP law”.
On the benefits of the regulatory Agency, Juliet Olumiyiwa- Rufai noted that “the establishment of the Agency will facilitate live-saving efforts. It will also navigate and coordinate efforts around the law.
“The Agency will leverage internal and external resources, make work easy and give voice and solidarity. The establishment of the Agency would attract funding and recognition and improve collaboration and relationship”.
The Program Director of Alliances for Africa, Blessing Duru furthered that the establishment of the Agency will be a veritable way of getting international recognition and donor support, adding that there is need to increase the level of sensitization around the various state actors, civil society organizations, media, relevant ministries as well as increase level of networking and partnership.
Stressing that the state government will lose nothing by establishing the Agency, Duru urged security agents and key ministries to create gender desk in their offices to make handling of issues of violence easier.
One of the participants, Udochukwu Chukwu said the Agency will be self-sustaining because alot of activities will happen around the Agency that would help to address issues of gender based violence in the state, stressing that the benefits of the Agency cannot be overemphasized.
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