Group sensitises Journalists on Administration of criminal Justice in Enugu
An advocacy cluster under USAID-funded Strengthening Civil Advocacy and Local Engagement, SCALE, known as
Sexual and Gender-Based Network, SJN, has called on journalists to amplify the Administration of Criminal Justice Law, ACJL and the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law, VAPP law in Enugu State.
The cluster, SGBV Justice Network, NAWOJ, Agbani Farm as well as Lawyers Alert, and Nigerian League of Women Voters among others pointed out that the media sensitisation is meant to elicit actions from relevant stakeholders on the justice law reforms objectives.
Speaking on the reason for the media advocacy, the state coordinator of SJN, Margaret Obiegue, said that there is a need to implement the VAPP law and the ACJ law in Enugu State, saying that it would help harp on the need for the implementation and the benefits accruing to them.
On her part, the Nigeria Union of Women Journalists, NAWOJ chairperson, Comrade Ngozi Ngene, said that the media workers should use their various tools to let the general public know about violence against persons, adding that NAWOJ had no tolerance for gender-based violence.
Ngene also said that the media should drum up support for the implementation of the ACJL and VAPP laws in Enugu State.
According to her, because some people are not aware of the reformed laws, people tend to protect the perpetrators of sexual-based violence rather than the victims of such violence, hence the media have to highlight the punishment involved should anyone contravene the law.
“Whenever gender violence occurs, either against the male or female, the media should hype it to dissuade gender-based violence in the society,” she said.
A gender activist, Barr. Nnenna Anozie, said that the administration of criminal justice law is about restorative justice.
Anozie said that the essence of the reformed laws is not for punitive measures but to ensure that justice is done and that is dispensed within a record time without unnecessarily delaying justice.
She explained that the “ACJL takes care of the victims or survivors as well as the perpetrators,” saying that the perpetrator’s rights should be observed while survivors should be paid compensation for their loss and trauma.
She said that the VAPP law is meant to eliminate violence in public and private life to prohibit violence of any kind.
Dominica Nwabufo
