By Joy Odor
The National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) and United Nations (UN) Women, on Thursday, charges state governments, Legislators on the implementation of State Action Plan (SAP) on Women, Peace and Security.
The Director-General of NILDS, Abubakar Sulaiman who was represented by the Director Legal Services, Shuiabu Danbata stated this in his opening speech at the NILDS/UN Women Consultative Engagement of the State Action Plan (SAP) and Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act, ” A one day Consultative Engagement for Legislators, Women Mediators and Critical Stakeholders to strengthen synergy in the lmplementation of SAP, VAPP Act and Policy Measures Role in Politics and Decision Making in Kaduna and Plateau States in Nigeria” in Abuja.
He said the objectives of the plan are prevention of conflict and all forms of violence against women and girls, institute coping mechanisms and systems for averting and mitigating disasters.
Sulaiman informed that without the assistant of the parliaments, the Implementation of the State Action Plan (SAP) and Violence against Persons prohibition (VAPP) Act cannot be realized.
He pointed out that this showed the legislative power of the State Assembly under the authority of section 4 subsection 6-7 of the 1999 constitution as amended is to make laws for the peace and good governance of their states.
“Kaduna, Plateau, Gombe and other states Assembly who have shown commitment in domesticated VAPP Act are commended by NILD and we hope the trend would continue to ensure sustainability of the loudable agenda against the increase cases of women violence.
” It is important at this point to draw the attention of the participants that the event is crucial and required serious engagement. I want to advise the participants to take the advantage to share knowledge and experience.
“The purpose of this engagement is to bring the stakeholders under one roof to discuss common issues, commo challenges and problems that identify and provide solutions that would be deployed to overcome those challenges” he said.
He expressed the institution’s appreciation to the UN Women and development partners for facilitating developing agenda such as this to end violence against women.
In his address, the Programme Specialist, UN Women, Peter Mancha explained that the state action plan emanated from the United Nations Resolution 1325, which increased the participation of women in peace and security.
He said while Nigeria had domesticated the plan, it is necessary for state governments to ensure its implementation.
“One of the objectives is how do we ensure that the legislators take ownership in terms of supporting this agenda so that it is not left for only the executive.
“The state action plan is not just a document; there are frameworks and structures to enhance implementation of women, peace and security agenda.”
“UN Women is working to ensure that we support some states, currently we are supporting six states on this agenda. Plateau and Kaduna are part of the states.
“This is so that they can be formulating laws that are gender sensitive and gender responsive. Of course we have the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act domesticated in almost all the 36 states.
Contributing, Plateau State Commissioner of Women Affairs, Rebecca Sambo said the state was the first to gazette the VAPP law.
She said the the State government has approved the implementation of the gender commission, saying with the law, women should stand up and ensure that their voices are heard with regards to peace and security.
Also, Coordinator, National Human Rights Commission, Plateau State, Grace Pam decried that women and children were usually the victims of conflicts and insecurity.
“This consultative engagement is very apt,” she said.
“When there is conflict and issue of security, the people affected much is women and children and they are never involved in the process of peace and security.
Similar, Deputy Minority Leader, Kaduna State House of Assembly, Comfort Amwe said the state was yet to pass the Gender Equality Bill, adding that she is in the program to see how she can lobby for the passage of the gender equality bill.
“In Kaduna, we are yet to pass it. We will push for it to become a law; to see how women in particular will be safe in the environment.
