NDI: Country Director, Stephen Snook Salutes KDSG Over Passage Of VAPP LAW, GESI Policy … Commends LANW, Stakeholders Efforts

NDI: Country Director, Stephen Snook Salutes KDSG Over Passage Of VAPP LAW, GESI Policy
… Commends LANW, Stakeholders Efforts
Zainab Tanimu
Kaduna, North-West, Nigeria

The NDI Resident Country Director and Chief of Party, Dr. Stephen Snook has lauded the collaborative efforts of the Kaduna State’s Government, Legal

Awareness for Nigeria Women (LANW) and other stakeholders in the realization of the passage of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act. (VAPP) and GESI policy in Kaduna state.

This commendation was given during a Multi-stakeholder Consultative Meeting

on Implementation of Gender Policy held in Kaduna..
Dr. Snook had described the robust implementation of the VAPP Act by the Kaduna state Government as a major mile stone in Nigeria’s democracy.

“We congratulate Kaduna State leadership for enacting the VAPP Act. This law seeks to protect the rights of citizens, especially the marginalized groups and women. This is important because as Nelson Mandela said: “Freedom cannot be achieved unless the women have been emancipated from all forms of oppression”.

Appreciating the role played by Legal Awareness For Nigeria Women (LANW) and other groups in promoting the passage of the Violence Against Peoples Prohibition (VAPP) Act, he said.

“I would like to recognize the roles played by Legal Awareness for Nigeria Women (LANW) and other groups in promoting the passage of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act.

Dr. Snook urged the women to continue in their strive to ensure a stout enforcement of the law in order that those impediments militating against women participation in public affairs and seeking elective offices are removed. “

According to the Country Director NDI, over the years, women around the world face barriers to entry into politics including that of threat of violence. NDI’s presence in Nigeria he said is to help find solutions to the problems.

Nigerian Women Politicians should continue striving for political recognition by working hard to advance the VAPP Law and GESI policy in the state. He advised.
“Around the world, women face barriers to entry into politics, including real threat of actual violence. Since 1999, NDI has worked through several programs to advance democracy in Nigeria and to promote civic engagement in electoral and political processes.
The Stop Violence Against Women in Politics (Stop -VAWIP) Campaign, which is part of NDI’s program in Nigeria, seeks to

end the violence that limits women’s participation in politics. Snook explained.
Dr Snook is of the hope that the implementation of these two laws , VAPP Law and GESI Policy in Kaduna state would bring not only positive change in the political status of women but also a new outlook in their general well being particularly the marginalized citizens.
“I wish to ask all of you to work energetically in implementing this commendable legislation so that women’s participation in Kaduna’s public affairs can reach it full potential.
The next phase after enactment of the VAPP law in Kaduna must be stout enforcement of that law to remove a major disincentive that keeps women from participating in public affairs and embolden them to seek elective office. Dr. Snook said.
The NDI program is funded by United State’s Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department for International Development (DFID).