Kano, Nigeria – 3 December 2024 – As part of its ongoing 16 Days of Activism Against Gender
Based Violence (GBV), Lift Africa Foundation convenes a high-level panel bringing together
religious scholars, judicial experts, legal practitioners, women’s rights advocates and civil
society leaders to examine the alignment of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP)
Act with Islamic principles and local legal traditions in Kano State.
The dialogue responds to long-standing misconceptions surrounding the Act and aims to build a
shared understanding of how the VAPP law strengthens justice, protects families, and
reinforces—not contradicts—Islamic teachings on dignity, safety and fairness.
Creating a Safe Space for Honest Dialogue
The panel gathers key stakeholders, including:
- Islamic scholars and clerics
- judges and magistrates
- representatives of the Ministry of Justice
- civil society organisations and women’s groups
- community mediators and traditional council representatives
Lift Africa Foundation facilitates a structured conversation that enables stakeholders to:
- analyse contentious provisions of the VAPP Act
- distinguish between misinformation and fact
- interpret harmful practices through religious and legal lenses
- explore opportunities for contextual adaptation of the law
- identify shared values between the Act and Islamic jurisprudence
Clarifying Misconceptions Surrounding the VAPP Act
Religious and legal experts collectively examine the most contested areas of the law, addressing
public concerns related to:
- domestic violence
- forced marriage
- emotional and psychological abuse
- consent and bodily autonomy
- harmful widowhood practices
- economic abuse
- rights of children and vulnerable persons
Panelists emphasise that Islamic law prohibits violence, injustice and exploitation, aligning
closely with the protection principles within the VAPP framework.
Strengthening Public Trust in Legal Reform
The session highlights the need for:
- community education on the moral and legal basis of the Act
- clear explanations of how the Act protects families
- improved engagement with Islamic councils and traditional rulers
- culturally sensitive messaging that resonates with communities
- stronger collaboration between legal actors and religious leaders
Scholars and legal practitioners agree that effective domestication requires public trust, and trust
can only be built through inclusive, evidence-based dialogue.
Engaging Women’s Groups and Community Actors
Civil society representatives share frontline experiences, highlighting how women and girls bear
the brunt of:
- domestic violence
- early marriage
- sexual assault
- economic deprivation
- psychological abuse
- harmful cultural practices
Their contributions reinforce the need for a harmonised legal framework that protects survivors,
strengthens families and supports community wellbeing.
Charting a Collective Path Forward
To support progress toward domestication, panelists recommend:
- developing a harmonised interpretation guide that aligns the VAPP Act with Islamic teachings
- using mosques and community centres as education platforms
- integrating religious leaders into state-level GBV committees
- training judges, magistrates and mediators on the VAPP Act
- establishing community dialogue forums in each LGA
- creating collaborative strategies for prevention and protection
These recommendations form the basis for ongoing engagement with the Kano State
Government.
Lift Africa Foundation’s Commitment
Through this dialogue, Lift Africa Foundation advances its commitment to:
- fostering inclusive, evidence-based legal reform
- strengthening relationships between religious and legal institutions
- addressing misconceptions with clarity and respect
- building community support for survivor protection
- ensuring justice systems reflect both rights-based and cultural realities
This session marks a significant step toward a more informed, unified and community-supported
approach to the domestication of the VAPP Act in Kano.