… the Constitution has failed the girl child! Says FIDA Abuja
As the 16 days campaign against gender based violence continues to heat up, teenagers and preteens in Abuja have been urged to speak out against rape and other violent behaviours.
Admonished never to assume the word ‘NO’ means another thing, they were re-orientated on the values of positively impacting their society.
Spurring students of Stella Maris International School, Abuja at their morning school assembly, Media & Teens Network (M&T) a not-for-profit organization geared towards values education and reorientation for young people in Nigeria drew attention to key provisions of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) (VAPP)Act, 2015 and its likely impact on violators.
Meanwhile, the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Abuja has lampooned the Constitution positing that “the Supreme Law of Nigeria which should protect the girl child fails her.”
M&T in conjunction with Law & Society Magazine and FIDA Abuja encouraged the students to desist from violence and other anti-social conducts that could infringe on other persons rights, while charging them on the dangers of bullying, intimidation and forcing an action on someone against his or her will.
Leading the school children to resounding chants of “No means no!”, Co-ordinator of the organisation, Lillian Okenwa and some representatives of FIDA, Obianuju Peter and Sokoajirin Aleku tasked the students to maximise every opportunity to make a difference in their lives and their environment.
Okenwa who is also Editor in Chief of Law & Society Magazine donated copies of the magazine and VAPP Act, 2015 to the school.
Receiving the donation on behalf of the school, the School’s Vice Principal, Administration, Mrs. Njideka Ofoma expressed their immense appreciation.
The 2019 theme for the International Day of Elimination of Violence Against Women focuses on rape. This is given the high rate of rape cases reported all over affecting every category and ages of women and children.
According to UN Women, 35 percent of women worldwide have experienced physical and/or sexual violence in their lifetime while 11 percent of Nigerian women have experienced physical and /or sexual violence by an intimate partner in the last twelve months.
In view of the culture of silence, several cases of rape, defilement and violence go unreported. Stigmatisation of survivors, fear of intimidation and many more stand as a barrier.
This challenge according to the Chairperson of FIDA Abuja, Rachel Adejo-Andrew has become even more exacerbated when the Nigerian Constitution fails to protect young girls from all forms of sexual violence.
Speaking at Abuja during a press conference, Adejo-Andrew, noted that: “Section 29 (4) (b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended states that: any woman who is married shall be deemed to be of full age.
“This is recognition that a girl below the age of 18 years becomes a woman once she is married. This is unfortunate as the Supreme Law of Nigeria which should protect the girl child fails her and rather entrenches the trivializing of the place of women in Nigeria…
“We have received reports of rape of girls of two months old, three years old, 10 years old, 13 years old and 16 years old. This is not inclusive of adult women who have also been victims of rape who have come to us for help.”
She noted that the VAPP Act is a landmark legislation on the prohibition of all forms of violence against persons, especially the marginalised in Nigeria. “It is a great improvement on the Criminal and Penal Codes which are operational in Southern and Northern Nigeria respectively.”
The FIDA Abuja Chair further called for an overhaul and repeal of all laws that discriminate against women and girls adding: “there is no better place to start than by repealing Sections 29 (4) (b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.
In all, FIDA Abuja made the following demands:
“The Federal Government should put in place necessary and appropriate mechanisms, facilities and processes to ensure safe spaces for victims and survivors of Gender Based Violence, particularly victims of rape.
“Quick proactive steps must be taken in the reform of our criminal justice system to ensure speedy investigation and prosecution of offenders.
“The different States of the Federation must fast track processes to adopt and implement the administration of Criminal justice act (ACJA) (2015) to ensure speedy dispensation of criminal trials…
“Rape is rooted in a complex set of patriarchal beliefs, power and control. This must stop.”
