By Kemi Yesufu
Representatives of the relevant government agencies and stakeholders met on Thursday in Abuja seeking an effective model to for the operation of a national sex offenders’ register as part of the implementation of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act 2015.
Section 1 (4) of the Act stipulates that a register for convicted sex offenders shall be maintained and accessible to the public.
Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the meeting organized by the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) programme of the British Council and funded by the European Union, Component Manager, RoLAC, Priscilla Ankut, said operating a national sex offenders register is critical to preventing and curtailing cases of sexual assault.
Ankut explained that the registration of service providers for the FCT, which is the only part of the country where VAPP is operational formed part of discussion between groups at the meeting.
She said: “The reason we are here is to make sure that National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), which is responsible for coordinating the implementation of the Act should maintain and display publicly the sex offenders register.
“Part of the thinking behind this register is to name and shame offenders and to create database for different agencies to track offenders and to deter those who practice sexual assault in our society.
“What we have today is a template of what sex offenders’ register should look like and what we will do with the information that is contained in it”.
On the aggregation of service providers she said: “What that register seeks to do is to ensure we collate data of all the relevant agencies, put it out in the public so that people know where they need to go if there is violation.
“And if they go there, they are treated in confidence, they get the kind of treatment they need and resources are available to provide them the needed assistance.
“There are those that are confident enough to pursue a legal track and there are those who need legal help so this register will help victims to know where they go to get such help”.
In her presentation, Amina Salihu, Consultant to RoLAC, described the development of sex offenders register as critical to the implementation of the VAPP Act.
Salihu expressed confidence that register which can be checked by organisations providing services to groups like children would serve as a source to verify profiles of would be employees.
She added that the register would contain biometric data that would share verifiable information of offenders in order to prevent them from committing more crime.
Representative of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Ezinwa Obiajunwa canvassed for the establishment of a special court for speedy dispensation of justice on cases of violence against persons in the country.
The VAPP Act 2015 prohibits all forms of violence against persons in private and public life, and provides maximum protection and effective remedies for victims and punishment of offenders.
Be the first to comment