The Violence against Person (Prohibition) act 2015 aka VAPP was enacted by the National Assembly to change how rape cases are handled in Abuja, for now.
Previously, only women could be "raped"stricto sensu, but VAPP also provides for the criminal offence of 'raping' a man. Other laws defined rape in relation to penetration of the vagina, and since only women had vaginas only women could be raped. However VAPP has widened the definition of rape to include men.
Other rape laws classified vaginal penetration as the only means for rape to occur, however under VAPP unlawful anal penetration or oral penetration can also be considered as rape.
VAPP recognises the concept of "gang rape" and provides a minimum of 20 years imprisonment for all parties to the offence.
Finally, the penalty of rape under VAPP is different from that of other codes like the Criminal Code, under the code the judge had the discretion to sentence an offender to less than the the maximum penalty, VAPP reduces this discretion such that once rape is proven, the minimum penalty is 12 years imprisonment and the judge's discretion is to make the sentence only longer.
VAPP is a good law its just unfortunate that its only applicable in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria buy its a laudable step in the right direction.
IK'ON
