Fida Bayelsa secures conviction of man who dragged physically challenged 6-year-old girl into bush and brutally raped her
The International Federation of Women Lawyer (FIDA) Bayelsa branch on Tuesday, November 28, secured the conviction of a man who was arraigned in court for raping a physically challenged six-year-old girl.
FIDA shared the good news on its Facebook page,
“All he wanted was justice for his daughter, who was defiled and left to die in a shrine in one of the communities in Bayelsa State. The daughter, barely six years old was dragged into the bush and was disvirgined in the most unforgettable way. The innocent girl who is physically challenged and cannot even speak was rescued by passers by in a pool of her own blood. The perpetrator was convicted today. Kudos to Fida Bayelsa, kudos to Barr Roselyn. Well done.”
FIDA Bayelsa Boys’ Summit
FIDA BAYELSA KICKS OFF BOYS’ SUMMIT IN BDGS
Tomorrow, FIDA Bayelsa will kick start its Boys” Summit at the prestigious Bishop Dimeari Grammar School, Ovom at 7.30am.
The Boys summit is a Fida Bayelsa initiative targeted at focusing on Boys as it relates to the offence of RAPE in collaboration with FACE Initiative.
The perpetrators of this crime are mostly boys and there’s a need to speak to them on why boys should not RAPE but become responsible and protective of their mothers, sisters, aunts, cousins and female friends.
Also not forgetting that boys are also defiled, the summit will create the platform for the boys to be able to speak up when abused and know where to report cases of rape and defilement.
We hereby invite all FIDANs to attend this summit.
Signed
Bina Timi Johnson-Oregbeme, Chairperson, Planning Committee
Akpoyi Oyintarimoboere Marian,
Secretary, Planning Committee
Establishment of ADR Settlement Centre
In 2018, FIDA Anambra State was recognised by the Chief Judge of Anambra state as a key stakeholder when the Anambra Multi Door Court House becomes operational.
Branch execs inaugurated in 2016
On Wednesday the 13th of July 2016 the incumbent Executive Committee of Fida Nigeria, Abuja Branch (elected on the 11th of May 2016) was duly inaugurated by the Honourable Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory, Justice Ishaq U. Bello at the Ceremonial Courtroom of the FCT High Court. The elected officials are:
1. Ngozi Theresa Ikenga – Chairperson
2. Rekia Rachael Adejo-Andrew – Vice Chairperson
3. Grace Popoola – General Secretary
4. Esther Onyebuchi Omaka – Asst. General Secretary
5. Damilola Awesu – Treasurer
6. Olufunmilayo Igunnu – Financial Secretary
7. Chioma Onyenucheya-Uko – Public Relations Officer/Editor
8. Ndidi Ezinwa-Ukoha – Asst. Public Relations Officer
9. Stella Odinakachi Duru – Welfare Secretary
It is my pleasure to present to you a few pictures from the event.
ENABLING CAPACITY FOR THE ADOPTION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ACJA – THE MACARTHUR FOUNDATION PROJECT
Across the branches of FIDA Nigeria, the MacArthur Foundation supported the Enabling Capacity for the adoption and implementation of the ACJA, 2015. The project spans from 2017-2020.
The project aimed at building the capacity of FIDA members in the criminal justice sector across the state through Continuing Legal Education workshops to engage and improve the Nigeria Criminal Justice Sector thus enhancing access to justice for the indigent women and children.
TRAINING OF TRAINERS
OTHER STATES
The project also seeks to provide educational and technical support to the state houses of assembly yet to adopt the ACJA, 2015.
ADVOCACY FOR THE ADOPTION OF THE VAPP ACT AND ITS EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION – THE VOICE PROJECT
The project titled, Advocacy for the adoption of the VAPP Act, 2015 in Rivers State, its effective implementation in Abuja and Lagos State under the Voice Influencing Grant commenced in September, 2017 and aims at promoting the adoption of the VAPP Act in Rivers state, popularizing its provisions in Abuja and Lagos State for effective implementation. The project is supervised by OXFAM Nigeria
Under the project, FIDA Nigeria hosted a National Stakeholder’s Workshop in Abuja to create more awareness on the need for the effective implementation of the VAPP Act 2015.
The stakeholders Workshop ended with a communiqué with an eight-point recommendation;
a. The issue of poor funding especially the budgetary allocation of the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons and Other related matters (NAPTIP) which is the body responsible by the provision of the Act for the monitoring the punishment of offenders of this Law.
b. The need for the provision of shelters at every major town of a State for survivors of violent acts.
c. The need for increased sensitization of citizens on the innovative provisions of the Act by collaborative efforts of all stakeholders.
d. The amendment of the VAPP Act to address the lacuna highlighted above.
e. The need for all States House of Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to adopt the VAPP Act.
f. The need for orientation to change the mindset of citizens especially as it relates to the culture of silence and stigmatization of survivors and victims.
g. Provision of adequate infrastructure for all sectors involved in the implementation of the Act.
h. The need for proper enlightenment and sensitization of the NIGERIA Police force to effectively carry out their roles as provided by the Act.
GENDER BASED VIOLENCE INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (GBVIMS) PROJECT
Efforts to keep accurate statistics on gender-based violence in Nigeria; FIDA Nigeria collaborated with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and other stakeholders on the development and implementation of Information Management System.
The sole aim of the GBVIMS is to harmonize data collection by GBV service providers in the humanitarian and project settings and provide a simple system for service providers to collect, store and analyze data, and to enable safe and ethical sharing of reported GVB incident data.
The project involved the National Secretariat, FIDA (Nigeria) Borno and Adamawa State Branch.