The House of Representatives, through its Committee on Women Affairs, on Wednesday, November 2, held a public hearing on a Bill to amend the popular Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act.
The Bill, which seeks to amend the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act {HB 1804}, was sponsored by the lawmaker representing Akoko South-East/South-West federal constituency, Hon. Adejoro Adeogun and co-sponsored by Hon. Sergius Ogun, whose interest is on Image-based Sexual Abuse and Other Related Matters.
Recall that the Bill, which seeks to protect the rights of widows against harmful and repressive practices and provide support for them, scaled through second reading earlier in the year, and has since been referred to the House Committee on Women Affairs for further action.
A statement by the Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to Hon Adeogun, Abire Sunday Olugbenga, and made available to CompassNG, stated that the Committee, chaired by Hon. Adewunmi Oriyomi Onanuga, drew participants from the Office of the Minister for Women Affairs; the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP; the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC; the International Federation of Women Lawyers, FIDA; Civil Society Legislative and Advocacy Centre, CISLAC; the Police Officers Wives Association, POWA; the National Council for Women Societies, NCWS; and the Partnership for Advancement of Women and Economic Development, PAWED.
Other participants in the public hearing include: the Association of Women in Trade and Agriculture, AWITA; Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative WRAPA; the Rock of Ages Empowerment Foundation, RAEF; the Heir Women Hub, among other notable foundations and civil society organisations, CSOs, which advocated for support and protection of women and children’s rights.
In his remarks, Hon. Adeogun highlighted the need to protect women and children from harmful cultural practices, especially in the parts of the country where the Sharia laws are not operational.
He empathized with women, who go through unimaginable throes after the death of their husbands in the name of cultural practices that are inimical to their wellness and happiness.
A not for roof it organisation, FIDA, which seeks to promote, protect and preserve the rights of women and children through its representatives suggests that every 23rd of June, which interestingly coincides with the birthday of Hon. Adeogun be adopted as a National Day for Widows.
It is instructive to note when women and children are tied to certain cultural practices that impede their fundamental human rights, the attainment of a just and equitable society, which we all seek to promote will be impossible.
This perhaps informed the need for Him Adeogun to sponsor this all all important Bill for the emancipation of the rights and women of children as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution as amended.
