…Rape, Crime Against The State Punishable With Life Imprisonment
The Anambra State Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law Implementation Committee (VAPPLIC), has warned perpetrators of female genital mutilation and rape, as well as all forms of Gender Based Violence (GBV), to desist from such criminal offences, lest they be convicted to life imprisonment and the accompanying penalty fines.
VAPPLIC gave the warning at a One Day Capacity Building Training on the Systematic Use of Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP Law) 2017, to handle GBV cases in Anambra communities, for Anambra North Senatorial Zone, held at Umuoba-Anam Town Hall, Otuocha Local Government Area, Anambra State.
The training which was supported and sponsored by International IDEA through its Rule Of Law and Anti Corruption (ROLAC) Program, Anambra State, had women leaders, youth leaders, town union leaders, Igwe cabinet members, Umu Ada and vigilante officials, among others from the seven local government areas that made up the Anambra North Senatorial Zone in attendance.
It was in implementation of sections 17 and 22 of the VAPP Law 2017, which defined harmful traditional practices and harmful widowhood practices and criminal offences.
Citing Section 22 of the VAPP Law, a member of VAPPLIC and the Assistant Director, Ministry of Justice, Anambra State, Barr Roseline U. Okeke, Esq, defined female genital circumcision and mutilation in any form (either with the use of sharp objects, hot water, Vaseline, powder and any corrosive item), as the violation of the human rights of the girl child and a criminal offence punishable by law.
She maintained that according to section 22 of the VAPP Law, any person, who commits female genital mutilation is liable to a conviction of 7 years imprisonment or a fine of N500,000 or both.
Adding her voice, another VAPPLIC member and the Executive Director, Integrated Anti Human Trafficking and Community Development Initiative (INTACOM AFRICA), Hope Nkiruka Okoye, flayed those who she said had been using Vaseline, hot water and other corrosive ointments to cut off the clitoris of the girlchild, for endangering the life of the minor.
The INTACOM Africa Director, stated that some women who died at child birth were also due to their inability to deliver properly, noting that female clitoris helps pregnant women in contraction, and should not be mutilated for any reason.
For her part, the Co-Chairman/Coordinator, Violence Against Persons Prohibition Implementation Law Committee, Mrs Lovet Uju Onyedilefu, regretted that contrary to the old misconception that female circumcision prevents girls from being sex addicts and prostitution, female mutilation actually cause problems in many marriages.
She observed that many broken homes caused by poor sexual performance of the wives, were due to the girls’ clitoris which were mutilated when they were babies.
The VAPPLIC Coordinator, charged parents to inculcate values and proper upbringing into the children, from ages of 3-7 years, saying that values such as not keeping late nights, not keeping bad company, knowing the good and bad touches, upholding truth and justice, among others, were what inculcate discipline and decency into the children, not female circumcision.
Mrs Onyedilefu, who also spoke against rape, maintained that in line with the VAPP Law, that rape is a crime against the State, and any body who is guilty of raping a minor is liable to life imprisonment and a fine.
She enjoined all to report all cases of rape to the State Committee immediately, and ensure that the matter gets to the State CID within 48 hours. While the victims would be taken to the State Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC), Ntasi Centre, General Hospital Enugwu-Ujwu or to any community health centre for immediate medical attention. This was even as the victims’ clothes and other items of evidence must be kept intact as discovered.
Pointing out the VAPP Law provides compensation for the victims and punishments for the offenders, Onyedilefu, exhorted parents against closing up of any rape or gender based violence case for fear of stigma and over any backdoor settlement.
While assuring of protection and confidentiality of victims of rape, the Coordinator, explained that rape cases are handled in family courts and taken care of by trained accessors, who do not disclose the identity of the victims.
