Harmful traditional practices

The Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (VAPP Act) of 2015 is a critical legislative framework in Nigeria aimed at advancing women's rights and combating gender-based violence (GBV). This study evaluates the effectiveness of the VAPP Act in addressing the pervasive issue of GBV, which remains a significant concern in Nigeria despite the Act's enactment. The research explores the Act's contributions, including its expansive definition of rape, prohibition of harmful traditional practices, and provisions for victim support and offender punishment. However, it identifies several challenges hindering the Act's full potential, such as slow domestication in states, cultural resistance, inadequate public awareness, and systemic issues within the judicial process. The study utilizes a doctrinal research approach, drawing on both primary and secondary legal sources, to provide a comprehensive analysis of the Act's legal and institutional frameworks. Through a critical examination of case studies and comparative analysis with international legal standards, the study highlights both the successes and shortcomings of the VAPP Act. Ultimately, it offers recommendations to enhance the Act's impact, emphasizing the need for robust enforcement, increased awareness, and legal reforms to ensure better protection of women's rights and more effective combat against GBV in Nigeria.