By Funmi Olasupo

As part of moves to end violence against persons in the country, Federal  Government have affirmed its commitment to implement the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, VAPP, 2015 which was passed into law in may 2015. Speaking in Abuja at a one day  forum on Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs themed: ‘Leave no woman behind’, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development Dr. Ezekiel Oyemomi said the ministry will not rest until the laws are fully implemented.

Represented by the Director, Women and Gender Affairs, Mrs. Esther Ohabame Minishelia, Dr. Ezekiel maintained that having ensured that the law was passed; the ministry will not rest until it is fully implemented across the country. She said, “The ministry is already working with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) to ensure swift implementation of the Act.

“The law prohibits all violence against persons both in private and public life and provides maximum protection and effective remedies for victims and punishment of offenders. “Our goal is to build a just society devoid of discrimination, protect the health, socio and economic growth; evolve evidence-based planning and government system where human, social, financial and technological resources are efficiently deployed for sustainable development.

“The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development serve as the national vehicle to bring about speedy and healthy development of Nigerian women, men, girls and boys by mainstreaming gender into the national development processes to ensure the survival, protection, development and participation of all categories of persons in our society,” The Perm. Sec. noted.

Mrs. Esther however, stated that the meeting is very timely going by Nigeria’s performance with respect to MDG-3, on promoting gender equality and women empowerment in other to strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development.