The Executive Director, Challenged Parenthood Initiative, Eunice Abimbola Agbogun, has appealed to Gov. Yahaya Bello to assent to the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Bill passed by the Kogi State House of Assembly and waiting for his assent as a Christmas gift to the Women of Kogi State.
The Executive Director made the appeal in a statement when she joined the rest of the World to mark the 16 Day Activism to End Violence Against Women and Girls, wants all all hands to be on deck to Orange the World and End Violence Against Women and Girls Now.
She said the bill when assented to by Gov. Bello, would protect women of the State against violence against women lamented the increasing rate of violence against women in the State as unacceptable.
The VAPP Bill, Agbogun disclosed prohibits female circumcision or genital mutilation, forceful ejection from home and harmful widowhood practices, added that It prohibits abandonment of spouse, children and other dependents without sustenance, battery and harmful traditional practices.
The Executive Director explained further that the VAPP bill when assented to, provides a legislative and legal framework for the prevention of all forms of violence against vulnerable persons, especially women and girls, expressed worries that several months after it was passed into law by the State Assembly, it is still waiting for the Governor to sign it into law.
The Executive Director called on Gov. Bello to assent to the bill and make it a Christmas gift for the women, lamented that many women are being abused violently abused on a daily basis, regretted that they are getting away with violent offenses against women because the law has not been signed into law as it is still.
She added that the bill when assented also would help prohibits economic abuse, forced isolation and separation from family and friends, substance attack, depriving persons of their liberty, incest, indecent exposure, among others, added that It also intends to eliminate violence in private and public life and provide maximum protection and effective remedies for victims of violence, and punishment of offenders.
The Executive Director commended Gov Bello for his friendly disposition to women in the State, listed the Governor’s efforts in making Women Vice Chairpersons, Council Leaders and electing three women as Councilors in the twenty one local government areas of the State as the Governor’s eloquent testament that he has Women at heart, said assenting to the VAPP law would be the icing on the cake for Kogi women, appealed to Gov. Bello to assent to the VAPP bill as a Christmas gift for women in the State.