UNFPA, through its targeted interventions and years of advocacy with other partners, successfully witnessed Nigeria pass into law, its first “Violence against person’s prohibition” bill (VAPP). The VAPP law provides a legislative and legal framework for the prevention of all forms of violence against vulnerable persons, especially women and girls.

UNFPA provided technical and financial support to LACVAW (Legislative advocacy coalition on violence against women), a coalition that worked on and pushed for the passing of the VAPP bill. Undeniably, women and girls are often disproportionately affected by sexual and gender based violence (SGBV). One such violence is the harmful practice of female genital mutilation or cutting (FGM/C) done at various scales in many communities in the country (NDHS, 2008).

UNFPA together with UNICEF is actively advocating for the abandonment of this practice and the VAPP law is a bridge to achieve this.