NAPTIP Urges State Governors To Domesticate Child Rights Act

Blessing Bature, Abuja


The National Prohibition of Human Trafficking in person (NAPTIP) has called on state Governors to Domesticate and resolutely pursue the adoption of the VAP Act and the Child Rights Act in their domain.

The Director General, lNAPTIP, Dame Julie Okah-Donli who said this yesterday while briefing newsmen in Abuja that this is a Clarion call for states to Domesticate the violence against person Act in their State to deepen the protection of women and children from predators in our society.

Okah-Donli said the state Governors and assemblies that are delaying in Domesticating this Act are inadvertently promoting sexual violence in their domain.

She said, "In many report trials, the guilt or innocent of the accused hinges on whether or not the victim consented to sexual intercourse, the determination of consent often can lead to distressing cross examination of rape victims in court as a result many rape victims choose not to report the crime to the police or refuse to press charges against their assailants.

" A victim of abuse remains abused and the monstrosity of it all is in the rape of minors and Babies, this has gone too far and it is the society's responsibility to protect the girl child.

She added, "there should be prompt report to convict the culprit armed with the doctor's confirmation and that of the police to form the content to be used and convict the culprit, saying the Shame should not be on the victim but on the culprit.

She urged parents to actively check the engagements of their children, the victim blaming and Shaming must stop and the culture of silence broken while calling on every individual to groom the boys to grow into a responsible and accountable gentlemen.

Agency has set up the VAT unit and will work with the national assembly to upgrade it to a full department, however implore all to note, as your body, your clothes, the skin and semen are veritable evidence which can be used to jail the rapists, she said.