By Uzoma Ogoke
The report on the controversial Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) bill, which underwent an intense public hearing, has been brought to the floor of Imo State House of Assembly for review and deliberations.
The house committee chairman on gender affairs, Amb. Uju Onwudiwe, who represents Njaba state constituency in the House and served as chairman of the committee which worked on the bill after the public hearing, presented the report to her colleagues.
Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Paul Emeziem, after accepting the report of the committee, committed it to the committee of the whole House and fixed April 21 for deliberations.
Recall that the bill seeks to enact a law to eliminate violence in private and public life, prohibit all forms of violence, including; physical, sexual, psychological, domestic harmful traditional practices, discrimination against persons and to provide maximum protection/effective remedies for victims and punishment of offenders.
However, the bill has remained one of the most controversial in the annals of the state, as it is being kicked against by some faith based organizations and individuals who described it as another form of the notorious abortion and same sex marriage laws that were many years ago rejected by the masses of Imo State.