By Ehis Agbon.
Kaduna, Nigeria – The Empowering Women for Excellence Initiative (EWEI), with support from the UN Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women, conducted a one-day training session for judicial officials from Maraban Rido and Kasuwa Magani wards in Chikun and Kajuru Local Government Areas of Kaduna State. This training, held under the ‘Together We Can’ (TWC) project, aimed to familiarize judicial officials in the Customary Courts with the Kaduna State Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law of 2018.
The training, known as the TWC Court Official Training, featured facilitators Barrister Bukola Ajao, Chairperson of Civil Society Coalition Against SGBV in Kaduna State and Barrister Sarah Peters, Senior State Counsel, Kaduna State Ministry of Justice. The session aimed to equip judicial officials with the knowledge and skills necessary to implement the VAPP Law effectively, ensuring better protection for victims of violence.
Barrister Bukola Ajao provided an overview of the VAPP Law and discussed the jurisdiction of the courts under this legislation. She also coordinated a group activity titled “In what way can we improve the implementation of the VAPP Law in Kaduna State,” encouraging participants to brainstorm and share ideas for enhancing the law’s effectiveness.
Barrister Sarah Peters led the section on “Rights of the Victim,” where she facilitated a group activity on experience sharing. Participants were urged to discuss cases of gender-based violence (GBV) brought to their courts, highlighting the processes used to handle these cases and the referral pathways utilized.
Procyon News interviewed Uche Brown, the Assistant Project Director of Together We Can, who provided an overview of the project.
“We aim to strengthen the capacity of customary court officials to handle GBV cases effectively, ensuring that victims receive the protection and justice they deserve under the VAPP Law,” said Uche Brown.
INTERVIEW – Uche Brown
Barrister Bukola Ajao also spoke on the importance o f this training for Customary Court officials.
“This training is crucial for ensuring that judicial officials are well-versed in the provisions of the VAPP Law and are equipped to implement it effectively, providing better protection for victims of violence,” she emphasized.
INTERVIEW – Barrister Bukola Ajao
Barrister Sarah Peters outlined the importance of this training to the Kaduna State Ministry of Justice.
“By empowering judicial officials with the knowledge and skills needed to handle GBV cases, we are strengthening the entire judicial system’s response to violence against persons. This is a significant step towards achieving justice and protection for all victims,” said Barrister Peters.
INTERVIEW – Barrister Sarah Peters (Click Link) https://youtu.be/0FigM3fMF6Q 
Mendie Jeremiah, the Monitoring and Evaluation Accountability and Learning Focal Person for the Together We Can Project and also the Programmes Officer for Empowering Women for Excellence Initiative, spoke on the expected outcomes of the TWC Court Official Training.
“We expect that this training will lead to a more consistent and effective application of the VAPP Law across customary courts in Kaduna State, ultimately resulting in better support and outcomes for victims of GBV,” Jeremiah stated.
INTERVIEW – Mendie Jeremiah
The training session concluded with participants presenting their group work, showcasing their ideas and strategies for improving the implementation of the VAPP Law in Kaduna State.
GROUP PRESENTATION
This initiative marks a significant step towards enhancing the capacity of judicial officials to address violence against persons, contributing to a safer and more just society in Kaduna State.
