The effort to combat Sexual and Gender-Based Violence has received a significant boost with the implementation of new measures by the Niger State Government.
As revealed by Mary Yisa, the director of planning, research, and statistics in the Ministry of Women Affairs, individuals found guilty of spousal abuse in the state will now face three years of imprisonment.
She emphasized the presence of a comprehensive legal framework and policy in the state to address this issue.
Moving forward, anyone who engages in domestic violence will be subject to the three-year prison term upon conviction, with the alternative option of paying a fine of N200,000.
Yisa said, “The SEASH broadly encompasses physical, sexual, economic, psychological/emotional abuse/violence including threats and coercion, and harmful practices that occur between individuals either at the place of work, within families and in the community, at large.”
She highlighted that additional forms of violations include sexual assault, domestic abuse or intimate partner violence, human trafficking, forced or child marriage, and harmful traditional practices, all of which can cause physical and emotional harm to individuals.
The director noted, “Niger State has robust legal, policy and institutional frameworks for addressing GBV, which include the Violence Against Person Prohibition Law and Child Right Act, penal code, section 34 of the constitution the Federal Republic of Nigeria and other laws peculiar to the state at large as well as Child Rights law.
“Niger state is also blessed with bountiful policies such as integrated Gender Policy embedded with 5 years strategic Action Plan (SAP), Communication Strategy and MnE framework, Violence Against Person Prohibited (VAPP) Law, Standard Operational Procedure on Prevention and response to GBV amongst others.
“A person who batters his or her spouse commits offence and is liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 3 years or to a fine not exceeding two hundred thousand naira (N200,000) or both.”
Furthermore,Yisa revealed that the law also provides that, “A person who attempts to commit the act of violence provided for in subsection(1) commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 1 year or to a fine not exceeding One hundred thousand naira (N100,000) or both.
“And, a person who incites, aids, abets, or counsels another person to commit the act of violence as provided for in subsection (1), commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 1 year or to a fine not exceeding two hundred thousand naira (N200,000) or both.
