A non-governmental organization, the Youth and Child Rights Network (YCRN), its sponsors and partners recently put together a strategic 2-day sensitization workshop themed “Strengthening Community Response to Violence Against Women and Girls Campaign”. The event held at the American corner (Library block) Abuja Campus, University of Port Harcourt on April 13th -14th 2022.

The event which featured seasoned speakers from diverse professional backgrounds, also had a member of the Nigerian Bar Association National Human Rights Committee; Mr. Desmond Orisewezie, as the keynote speaker.

In his address which was delivered via virtual video conferencing technology from the United Kingdom, he decried the rising spate of domestic violence in the world of today. He noted that according to the American Journal of Emergency Medicine, domestic violence cases increased by 25 to 33 percent globally in 2020. In the United Kingdom, there was also a stunning 65% increase in calls reporting domestic violence in the same year.


Similarly, according to Vanguard Nigeria in a 2021 publication, Nigeria recorded over 10,000 domestic violence cases between 2019 and 2021 in Lagos State alone. He remarked that these reports are frightening considering the fact that domestic violence cases are highly under reported especially in African societies.

 

He further highlighted that the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (VAPP) 2015 initially came as a huge relief but at the same time, the sanctions for domestic violence contained therein are ridiculous, poor and embarrassingly inadequate. For instance, Section 2(1) of the VAPP Act prescribes the punishment for intentionally causing physical injury to be a prison term not exceeding 5 years or a fine of 100,000 naira or both. Similarly, Section 9 provides for a prison term of not exceeding two years or a fine not exceeding N300,000 for forcefully ejecting one’s spouse from home.

Mr. Orisewezie submitted that these sanctions are not stringent enough to deter violent individuals from constituting themselves into domestic nuisance and therefore advocated for a legislative review. He also blamed the societal ideals which leans towards encouraging married persons to maintain a union regardless of the circumstances. He noted that until majority of people in the society start speaking up against these vices and celebrating rather than condemning persons who leave whatever union or civil partnerships for good reasons, we might just still be very far away from the solution.

Mr. Orisewezie who triggered applause from the participants at the end of his virtual presentation at the workshop, encouraged victims or persons who know victims to normalize reporting such cases and see whether or not something will be done about it.
“This time around we will deal decisively with the perpetrators”, he added.