The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) has called on the National Assembly to pass the Gender Equality Bill into law to curb gender-based violence in the country.
The Chairperson of of FIDA, Mrs Ngozi Ikenga, while speaking in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) made the call in Abuja on Monday.
“The bill on gender equality should be passed into law. I am appealing to the National Assembly to look at that bill again and pass it into law.
“Women need to be brought into the scheme of things in this country, let the interest of women be covered both in the Constitution and other forms of laws in the country.
“We have been clamouring for this Gender Equality Bill to be passed into law but it always met brick wall, frustration and all of that.
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“Women should have their own place both in the constitution and in anything that concerns us in this country, because we are human beings and living in the same country,’’ she said.
While speaking, Ikenga applauded the passing into law of Violent Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act, 2015 but was quite disappointed as FCT and Anambra had enforced the law in their regions.
She said that FIDA was discussing with other state branches to lobby their state Assemblies into domesticating the Act.
“The VAAP Act covers all areas of violence: domestic violence, sexual violence, rape and all forms of violence.
“We are so happy that they expanded gender issues in the Act. Domestication is paramount.
“If all states in the country domesticate this Act, there will be no hiding place for perpetrators of violence.
“That is why we are lobbying all states to domesticate it,’’ she said.
Ikenga who also spoke about rape urged victims including physically challenged, to first report the matter to a government-approved hospital, before approaching the police. She also added that in reporting a rape incidence, a victim needs to show an evidence that she was raped afterwhich the police will embark on their own investigation and medical examination.
“Sometimes, the reports from the Police angle may be compromised.
“You may be delayed and the specimen for evidence has a life span and you need evidence in the case.
“This way, it is better, so that you do not have a situation where they will take the sample and say somebody mistakenly throws it away. You already have one in hand.
“The hospital reports will carry more weight in court. So, there is no harm in going to the hospital first to arm yourselves with results before going to the law enforcement agency.’’
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