THE Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Hajiya Binta Bello, has called for stricter penalties for rape to serve as a deterrent.
Bello made this demand during the close-out event of Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law implementation in Cross River, yesterday, organised by Stand to End Rape.
Represented by Mr. Jacob Oba, Head of Operations, NAPTIP, Cross River Command, Bello emphasised that rape was a heinous crime against humanity.
She advocated for collective efforts to eradicate it through timely reporting, assisting survivors, providing legal services, and awareness campaigns to reduce stigmatization.
Bello appealed for a united front against rape, reaffirming NAPTIP’s commitment to combating VAPP Act violators, including human traffickers.
On her part, Co-director of Stand to End Rape Initiative, Dr. Mercy Kwabe, acknowledged Nigeria’s progress in promoting equal rights through the VAPP Act.
However, she highlighted the need for better public understanding of the law, particularly in local languages.
Kwabe stressed the importance of amending the VAPP Act to incorporate harsher penalties for perpetrators, rather than repealing it.
Similarly, Chairperson of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Cross River Chapter, Ms Ann Awa, echoed the need for full implementation of the VAPP Act across states. (NAN)
