Tina Amanda
International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Rivers State, has said that the establishment of paralegals in every community in the state will help reduce domestic violence, intimidation, sexual abuses, injustice and killings happening around the communities.
The chairperson of FIDA Rivers, Adata Bio-Briggs, disclosed this while training some residents of Firiskiapama community Bundu, in Port Harcourt local government area as paralegals on Rivers State Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law 2020, organised by FIDA in partnership with Nigerian Women Trust Fund and Ford Foundation.
She explained that the implementation of the VAPP LAW is very important, as every individual in the state have the right to be abreast with the Law, enable the speedy delivery of justice, and curb violence and crimes within the communities.
Bio-Briggs maintained that it is one thing to enact the law, and another thing for the people to have access to justice, as paralegals will bridge the gap between the time an incident happens and when reports are made to either the police or the judiciary.
According to her, it became pertinent to train non-lawyers with essential knowledge of the law, with steps and procedures to follow when the law is breached or about to be breached.
She said this is to enable them to serve as first-line responders or first aiders between the community members, the police, and the justice system.
Similarly, the FIDA Rivers boss while training some people from Okrika at the local government council, urged them to ensure every community person gets access to justice in order to decrease violence against persons in their locality.
Bio-Briggs noted that over time, FIDA has been saddled with issues and complaints of violence against persons, especially women and children from Okrika communities.
She further noted that violence cannot be reduced without involving people in the localities to become first aiders and responders to issues arising from communities, as most persons may find it difficult to reach the police, FIDA, or Civil Rights organisations on time.
