Stakeholders from various Islamic groups and scholars have met at the Centre for Islamic Civilization and Inter-faith Dialogue (CICID), Bayero University, Kano, to validate provisions related to violence against women and children in the north.
The meeting which has as its theme: “Action research validation meeting on legal frameworks and gender justice: Mitigating violence against women justifications,” was organised by the centre in partnership with Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA), with support from the Ford Foundation.
Speaking during the meeting on Thursday, WRAPA consultant, Prof. Dahiru Jafar-Usman, said the meeting aims to validate a baseline research to review the historical and legal antecedents of the penal and criminal code, regarding violence against women, girls, and the vulnerable.
He said the research focused on the cases related to sections 55(1)A to D of the Penal code, recommending it repeal, and also a review of Sections 353 and 360 of the Criminal Code, which address indecent assault on men and women.
Prof. Jafar-Usman said there have been no cases decided with Section 55(1)of the Penal Code, since 1960, because it’s in conflict with the provisions of the 1999 constitution, as amended, and other international human rights instruments.
He advocated the provisions of the Criminal Code should be amended to prohibit indecent assault against any person (covering all gender) as a felony, punishable by three years, not as it is currently prescribed against women.
He said the research was neccistated, considering how women are systemically disenfranchised from accessing justice or affirming their rights as guaranteed by Islam.
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While analysing Quran 4:34, that teaches love and compassion, the consultant emphasised on the importance of kind treatment and non-violence in marital relationships.
Prof Jafar-Usman however, urged both the federal and state government to domesticate the Violence Against Person Act, to curb violence against women and children across the country.
CICID’s Director, Dr. Taufiq Abubakar, said the document will help in fast tracking the norms, cultures and traditions of people from the north.
He said said the meeting had in attendance representatives from Muslim scholars such as the Kadiriya, Sunni, Council of Ulamas, Izala and FOMWAN, among others, who will validate and see how suitable the document will work, in order to ensure violence against women in the north is reduced to the barest minimum.
WRAPA Secretary General, Hajiya Saudatu Mahdi, said the research was carried out in seven northern states, involving 105 mosques, 136 imans, 1.9 million women, while various literatures, the Quran as well as other stakeholders were consulted.
