By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
The Director General of Kogi State Public Defender and Citizen Right Commission, (PDCRC) Abdullahi Zakari has reiterated his determination to facilitate and track the progress of passing the VAPP bill into law in the state.
Zakari made this known on Friday during an advocacy visit to his office by the State Coordinator of Gender and Constitutional Reform Network (GECORN), Mrs. Eunice Agbogun.
He reiterated that the VAPP bill by now should have been passed into law, stressing that he would use his good office to facilitate and track the progress from appropriate quarters.
Zakari declared his readiness to partner with GECORN, an agencies who has human right struggle and abuse in the society as it’s focus.
According to him, domestic violence is becoming gender bond, but prevailing more among women, hence the need to have an establish law that fight against such crime.
While emphasizing on the welfare of those who are victims of child abuse, rape and domestic violence, the DG disclosed that as soon as the VAPP is passed in to law, his office will ensure the need for the Sexual Assault Response Centers (SARCs) to be created to enable proper protection of the victims.
He however promised to use the intellectual and professional wealth of his office to promote, synergies and create a more formidable working environment for GECORN and Civil Society Organizations in the state.
In her response, the state coordinator of GECORN, who is also the Executive Director of Challenged Parenthood Initiative (CPI), Mrs. Eunice Agbogun thanked the Director General of PDCRC for the warm reception and the good work towards humanity.
Agbogun who thanked the DG for the follow up and contribution towards the VAPP bill campaign in the state stressed that the office of the Public Defender is cardinal towards the actualization of the network goals and objectives.
Eunice therefore stressed the need for support mechanisms to address sexual and gender based violence in homes, internally displaced people, rural communities, urban areas, educational, health institutions, and workplaces.
She also urged the DG to use his good office in helping GECORN in actualizing the demand on the Federal Government to declare March 8 a state of emergency on violence against women and girls.
