EDSG Reviews VAPP Law, Moves Against Cyberstalking, Sextortion, Deepfakes

By Rosemary Okoduwa

The Edo State Government has commenced a review of the Edo State Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, 2021, to strengthen protections for survivors and address emerging forms of gender-based violence, particularly technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV).

The review process was inaugurated at the John Odigie Oyegun Public Service Academy (JOOPSA), Benin City, during a meeting of the Technical Working Group convened by the Edo State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in collaboration with the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) Programme.

Declaring the meeting open on behalf of the Commissioner, Hon. Eugenia Abdallah, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs. Joy Ihensekhien, said the review was necessary to ensure that the State’s legal framework remained responsive to emerging realities and effectively protected vulnerable persons. She noted that, although the 2021 VAPP Law represented a significant milestone in preventing violence and improving survivors’ access to justice, new forms of abuse including online harassment, cyberstalking, image-based abuse, sextortion and other technology enabled forms of violence had emerged.

Hon. Abdallah urged members of the Technical Working Group to adopt a survivor-centred, human-rights-based and inclusive approach to the review, with particular attention to children, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups. She expressed confidence that the exercise would produce a stronger, clearer and more responsive VAPP legal framework that reflects the realities of Edo State while providing meaningful protection and effective remedies for survivors.

In his presentation, titled “Overview of the Edo State VAPP Law, 2021: Key Issues and Priority Areas for Review,” Mr. Imonitie Omokhodion of RoLAC identified gaps in the existing legislation, particularly its limited provisions addressing technology-facilitated abuse. He cited the non-consensual sharing of intimate materials, doxing, online grooming, digital surveillance and AI-generated deepfakes as emerging threats requiring clear legal provisions.

Mr. Omokhodion also highlighted concerns regarding discrepancies in sentencing for rape and gang rape, provisions affecting minor offenders and the need for greater clarity on marital consent. He disclosed that RoLAC had supported the State in developing a zero draft of the reviewed VAPP Law, incorporating relevant provisions from the recently launched Edo State Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence Policy, 2026.

The review is expected to strengthen the State’s response to both conventional and technology-enabled forms of violence while improving legal protection, access to justice and remedies for survivors. It also seeks to ensure that the law keeps pace with emerging digital threats and provides clearer guidance to institutions responsible for prevention, investigation, prosecution and survivor support.

A major highlight of the meeting was the inauguration of the Technical Working Group, comprising representatives of ministries, departments and agencies, the Judiciary and Legislature; security and law enforcement agencies; religious and traditional institutions, development partners, civil society organisations;l, and women’s and human rights groups. The group’s broad-based composition is expected to ensure that the review benefits from diverse expertise and produces a comprehensive and inclusive VAPP legal framework for Edo State.