Just two weeks after the public outcry against the “Counter-Subversion Bill,” which has since been withdrawn, the Nigerian Senate has brought forward another contentious piece of legislation. This time, the focus is on repealing the 2015 Violence Against Persons Protection (VAPP) Act, a law originally enacted to combat the widespread issue of gender-based violence in Nigeria. The repeal bill has now passed its second reading in the Senate.
The sponsor of the bill, Senator Jibrin Isah, explained that repealing the 2015 law would pave the way for amendments aimed at addressing what he described as drafting challenges in the current legislation. The existing VAPP Act is gender-neutral in its language, criminalizing various forms of physical, emotional, and sexual violence. It also broadens the definition of rape beyond penetration, provides avenues for victim compensation, and acknowledges that men can also be victims of rape.
Senator Isah, who represents Kogi East, is pushing for the repeal on the grounds that the current provisions hinder the law’s intended objectives. He argues for comprehensive reforms, suggesting that physical violence alone is not enough to establish violence; the intent behind the act should also be taken into account.
Furthermore, the senator highlighted the importance of differentiating between situations where consent is entirely absent and those where consent is obtained through fraud, undue influence, or other unlawful means.
Senator Isah also claimed that the original act was misleadingly presented. He alleged that in response to opposition regarding its apparent gender bias, the bill’s promoters renamed it, made some modifications, introduced seemingly gender-neutral language, and ultimately secured its passage.
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