VAPP Law: Foundation, Ondo state Govt sensitize persons with disabilities
A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) in partnership with Ondo State Agency Against Gender Based Violence (OSAA-GBV ) on Thursday has sensitised Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) on the Violence Against Person Prohibition (VAPP) law.
Reports has it that 70 of the braille versions of the law were launched and distributed to the visually impaired. The Wife of Ondo State Governor, Mrs Betty-Anyanwu Akeredolu at the programme in Akure, said the launching of the braille version was imperative because the law is mainly for vulnerable people in the society.
Akeredolu, who was represented by one of her aides, Mrs Ngozi Okoro, said it was important to carry PWDs along because the law would only be “a paper” if people that needed it were not actively involved and carried along.
“This is a law that helps protect and prevent violence against people, irrespective of gender. It is for people in vulnerable groups,” she said. Akeredolu, however, commended OSAA-GBV for making the braille version of the law available.
The Executive Secretary of the OSAA-GBV, Mrs Bolanle Afolabi said everybody must be carried along on the importance of the law. Afolabi also noted that the leaders and different groups of PWDs made request for the people with disabilities to be up to date about the law.
“No one should be left behind. Punishments for Gender Based Violence are in the law so that people will know their rights and understand the law.
“It is a very important law that everyone must be involved in the documentation and implementation,” she said.
The Country Representative of WFD, Mr Adewale Olorunmola, said the foundation was in the state to support the implementation of the VAPP Law. Olorunmola said a law would only be useful when everyone in the society understands its content and know their rights.
“Everyone, regardless of your status in the society is not violated. And when we talk about those people, they are minors, children, and people with disabilities among others.
“What we are doing in Nigeria is to promote inclusiveness of citizens on things that affect their lives. That is why we need to have the VAPP Law in the braille version.
“If we must grow as a country, we need to carry everyone along,” he said.
Also, the Chairman, Ondo State Agency for Welfare of Persons With Disabilities, Princess Folashade Arise, said people with disabilities were more vulnerable to violence. She appreciated WFD for its special interest in PWDs and for not leaving them behind by sponsoring the programme to bring them up to speed on the VAPP Law.
NAN/Wumi
