Alliances for Africa Pays an Advocacy visit to the Attorney General of Imo State.

We had a successful Advocacy visit to the Attorney general of Imo State, today, 28^th March, 2023.

It was Alliances for Africa  in collaboration with the Imo State Committee on Ending Violence against Women and Girls (ISCEVAWG).

The team led by the Program Manager Alliances for Africa – Ms Blessing Duru had representatives of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, and The National Human Rights Commission, etc. in attendance.

The purpose of the visit was to appreciate the Attorney General of the State – Chief Cyprian Charles Akaolisa for his tireless efforts to ensure the Passage of the VAPP into law and the domestication of same in Imo State

However, the team frowned that since the domestication of the VAPP Law in Imo State 2021, the Implementation, relevant stakeholder’s commitment and follow -up actions are slow while perpetrators of violence against women girls walk freely on the streets and survivors still battle with little or no access to justice.

The team recognizing the crucial role the Ministry of justice plays in the administration for justice in Imo State, Demanded for the following:

• A continued partnership with the Ministry of justice to advocate for the full implementation of the VAPP Law.
• To support and facilitate the discussion on the establishment of the Imo State Agency for the Prohibition of Violence Against  Persons
• Maintain collaborations with the committee in ensuring survivors have improved access to justice by; fast-tracking petitions that comes from this committee, facilitating a good working relationship with the commissioner of the police, approving delegates from the police gender-desk to attend the committee review meetings and lending your voice to sensitize the public on issues through media engagements implemented by the committee
• Support in investigating and punishing corrupt officials who truncate cases and encourage alternative dispute resolution at the expense of the survivors

In his response, the Attorney General of the State responded that the State in response to ending violence against women and girls has already commenced activities with the support of its  female lawyers including the International Federation of Female Lawyers- in particular the setting up of the Citizens’ Defense Department. 

A unit with a Director that will ensure issues related to gender based violence, immediate release of overdue cases in courts, citizens oppression, unlawful detention etc. will be brought to the fore etc. through this department, citizens who hitherto could not access justice can be supported to access justice. This will help to enforce the criminal justice court.

On our demand,

The Attorney general said, “I will take it up and I assure you that in the nearest future, the Imo State Agency for the Prohibition of Violence against Persons will be established.”

He immediately detailed the Permanent secretary to liaise with the team to ensure the full implementation of the VAPP law in the State.

“We are partners to ensure gender based violence and violence against women and girls are brought to end or to the barest minimum in the State and we will continue to collaborate to ensure we do our best for our people and our State.” He stated.