16 Days of Activism: Civil Society Organizations Demands that the Imo VAPP be signed

Community & Youth Development Initiatives (CYDI) joined fellow Civil Society Organizations and Other Human Rights Organizations in Imo State led by Alliances for Africa (AfA) in a road walk on the 25th of November 2021 to demand the signing of the Imo State Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law as part of the activities to mark this year’s event. In line with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls (16 Days of Activism) on the Theme “Orange the world: End Violence Against Women Now!”

The participants at the rally matched to Imo State Government House where the Deputy Chief of Staff, Imo State who represented the Governor, listened to the Team as they read out their demands. The Imo VAPP Law which has been passed into law but awaiting the assent of the Executive Governor of Imo State will protect Boys, Girls, Women, Men, Persons with Disability etc from a wide range of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) including; rape/defilement, forced financial dependence or economic abuse, harmful widowhood practices, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), abandonment of children and harmful substance attacks etc. The state lacks a comprehensive legal framework that enables victims of violence and abuse to get justice, and when the law is signed, it will ensure that Imo residents attain their highest standard of living as humans and justice for victims of violence.

The Deputy Chief of Staff who listen to the team, acknowledged a copy of the Demand after it was read out by the leader of the team. He assured us that our message will surely get to the Executive Governor of Imo state and after that, the participants at the rally dispersed to continue with other activities lined up for this year’s 16 Days of Activism.