A Civil Society Organisation, International Human Rights Observatory Africa has expressed concern over the delay by some state governments to domesticate the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) act.

The bill was signed into law by former president, Goodluck Jonathan in 2015.

Addressing Journalists in Abuja, the Patron of the group in Africa, Kenneth Ibe-Kalu said the domestication and implementation of the Act would help curb Gender-based violence in the country.

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Ibe-Kalu called on states where the Act has been domesticated without being implemented to commence the process in order to safeguard the rights of women in such states.

He said: “We are worried that the VAPP Act has not been domesticated by some states. Our delegations arrive and we hope to visit the national assembly to parley with the state government yet to domesticate the Act.

“The Act is very important to help protect the rights of women and children in the country. We would not just want it to end at domestication, we want the act to be implemented.”

He said the group would ensure the protection of women’s and children’s rights in the country.