Malala Fund joins activists in calling for Nigeria’s government to protect the law that combats gender-based violence (GBV).
Malala Fund stands with our partners in calling for the protection of Nigeria’s Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act, a piece of legislation that criminalises physical, sexual and emotional abuse, including domestic violence, rape, female genital mutilation and child marriage. For years the law has helped make women and girls safer. But now it is at risk of reversal.
“Repealing the VAPP Act would not only undermine efforts to protect Nigerian women and girls from violence but also threaten their right to education,” says Nabila Aguele, Malala Fund’s Chief Executive, Nigeria. “When girls feel safe, they are more likely to attend school and reach their full potential. We cannot afford to take a step back in the fight for gender equality. We urge the Senate to amend and strengthen the Act, rather than repeal it.”
Leading the call to repeal the VAPP Act is Senator Jibrin Isah, representing Kogi East district. His repeal bill has passed its second reading in the Senate. He argues that the VAPP act is ambiguous, riddled with legislative errors and is not “holistic” enough. The Senator is also concerned that the Act doesn’t provide adequate compensation to GBV victims. He proposes increasing the fines and imprisonment penalties as a more effective warning to potential offenders.
Malala Fund is working with its partners in Nigeria, including Invictus Africa and Education as a Vaccine, to urge the Senate to reject the repeal of the VAPP Act. We are instead recommending an amendment that would ensure clear, inclusive language that protects all individuals, particularly women and girls.
“The VAPP Act is now adopted by 35 out of 36 states in Nigeria. Let us build on this progress by amending and properly implementing the Act rather than repealing it,” says Bukky Shonibare, the Executive Director of Invictus Africa, in response to the potential repeal.
Alongside our partners, Malala Fund also calls on the Nigerian government to improve how it implements the VAPP Act to better protect and support GBV survivors.
“Enacting and implementing legal protection to prevent gender-based violence is critical for ensuring girls have access to education, stay in school and complete their education,” says Toyin Chukwudozie, Executive Director of Education as a Vaccine. “Repealing the VAPP Act will jeopardise this fundamental right for all girls nationwide. It is unnecessary and undermines the efforts of everyone who fought for its passage.”
Malala Fund and its partners advocate for legislative changes to ensure 12 years of free education for all Nigerian children. Our Education Champions in the country remain committed to creating a safe and supportive environment for girls to learn and thrive. The VAPP Act is a crucial component of this effort, and we will continue to advocate for its preservation and implementation.
About our partners
With their Malala Fund grant, Invictus Africa advocates for gender-responsive budgeting that prioritises girls’ education needs in Oyo and Gombe states.
Education as a Vaccine’s Malala-Fund supported work focuses on getting girls back in school and dismantling barriers to their education by training girl advocates in Kaduna state.
