Nigeria’s senate has passed its most comprehensive anti-violence against women bill, to date, prohibiting “female circumcision, forceful ejection from home and harmful widowhood practices,” reports Nigeria’s Channels Television.
The bill further helps eliminate “violence in private and public life, provides maximum protection, effective remedies for victims of violence, and punishment of offenders.”
Other features of the bill include a prohibition on “abandonment of spouse, children and other dependents without sustenance as well as battery and harmful traditional practices.”
Finally, the bill prohibits “economic abuse, forced isolation and separation from family and friends, substance attack, depriving persons of their liberty, incest, indecent exposure, among others.”
The “indecent exposure” raises an eyebrow that calls for striking that clause in the bill out. Nevertheless, it is good to see the federal government take a step in the right direction through its legislative arm. The trick now is enforcement of this law.
One of the quick things I realized over a decade ago when I began reviewing Nigeria’s constitution and laws is that the country has some great laws in place. The issue is the enforcement of these great laws.
For more information, visit Channels TV here.
Also watch this great TedTalk by Jackson Katz who explains that violence against women is a men’s issue.
-Ms. Uduak
Founded in 2007, Ladybrille® Magazine is a California based pioneer digital publication demystifying the image of Africans in the west through contemporary African fashion and celebrating the brilliant woman in business and leadership, with an emphasis on the African woman in the diaspora. Our coverage includes stories on capital, access to markets, expertise, hiring and retention, sales, marketing, and promotions.
