BY SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
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CLEEN Foundation in a partnership with Norwegian Embassy has convened a 2-day state-level policy dialogue on bridging VAPP Law Implementation Gaps In Enugu.
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A statement by the State Coordinator of the African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA) Nigeria, Enugu Branch, Chidi Grace Obeke stated the dialogue was a robust push toward strengthening justice, protection, and accountability for survivors of gender-based violence.
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Obeke further stated, “The CLEEN Foundation—with generous support from the Royal Embassy of Norway—convened an impactful two-day state-level policy dialogue focused on bridging implementation gaps for the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) (VAPP) Law.”
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The high-level engagement brought together critical justice sector actors, statutory bodies, and duty-bearers in Enugu State to examine enforcement bottlenecks and formulate practical strategies for optimal legal protection.
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As highlighted in the dialogue’s framework, empirical evidence across focal states demonstrates that implementation at the grassroots level often remains weak due to knowledge gaps, institutional inertia, and a lack of coordinated enforcement protocols, with many frontline actors lacking physical access to the actual statutory texts.
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To tackle these structural challenges head-on, the dialogue convened thirty-five key stakeholders representing vital government ministries, law enforcement agencies, statutory bodies, and non-governmental organizations, including:
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The Ministry of Justice and Department of Public Prosecutions (DPP)
The Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) Gender Desk
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP)
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)
The African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA) Nigeria, Enugu Branch
The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) and Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)
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Representing AWLA at the engagement, the State Coordinator of the African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA) Nigeria, Enugu Branch, Chidi Grace Obeke, delivered an inspiring goodwill speech.
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Contributing robust professional insights during her address, Obeke emphasized “the urgent imperative for stronger institutional frameworks, inter-agency collaboration, and dedicated implementation structures to ensure that the VAPP Law moves effectively from text to practical enforcement, delivering real justice and succor to vulnerable victims across Enugu State.”
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The two-day engagement featured strategic evaluations aimed at meeting critical core objectives, such as distributing official VAPP legal texts to key Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), law enforcement agencies, traditional councils, and public health institutions.
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Participants also worked collaboratively on re-establishing local enforcement protocols—including dedicated GBV reporting desks, rigorous enforcement of protection orders, and strict adherence to Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) detention timelines—culminating in the drafting of a State-Specific Action Plan with clear indicators for local-level implementation.
