Stakeholders in the fight against gender-based violence have raised concerns over the poor enforcement of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, warning that gaps in awareness and implementation continue to hinder progress.
The concerns were expressed during activities marking the 30th anniversary of Gender and Development Action, alongside a workshop on participatory learning and accountability in GBV prevention held in Abuja.
Participants, including government officials and civil society organisations, said although several states have adopted the VAPP Act, its implementation remains inconsistent across the country.
Founder of GADA and former Nigerian ambassador to Ethiopia and Djibouti, Nkoyo Toyo, said that while some progress has been made over the years, it has not translated into a strong institutional response.
According to her, the transition from traditional norms is ongoing, but new systems to protect victims have not been fully established.
Toyo attributed the challenges to weak institutions, inadequate funding, and poor coordination among critical sectors, including the police, health, and education systems.
“These institutions are under-resourced and overwhelmed. We need stronger collaboration and better funding,” she said.
Also speaking, Cross River State Commissioner for Social Welfare and Community Development, Margaret Ene-Ita, noted that enacting laws alone is insufficient without effective enforcement by relevant authorities.
She commended GADA’s sustained advocacy, which she said has improved awareness and accountability on gender issues.
On her part, Priscilla Usiobaifo of the BraveHeart Initiative for Youth and Women identified low awareness, particularly in rural communities, as a major barrier to accessing justice.
She stressed that increasing public understanding of rights under the law would encourage victims to seek redress while reducing cases of extrajudicial actions.
Usiobaifo also called for improved capacity among law enforcement agencies, especially the police, to ensure proper application of the law.