By JAMES KWEN
The House of Representatives on Thursday passed through second reading a bill for an act to provide for compensation to victims of crime and to reduce crime in society.
The proposed legislation is tilted, “Bill for an Act to Establish Rights for Victims of Crime to Provide for the Rights, Welfare and Compensation of victims of Crime and provide for the strengthening of the Criminal Justice System; and for Related Matters.”
Sponsored by Henry Archibong from Akwa-Ibom, the bill proposed the establishment of a department in the Ministry of Justice to be called ‘Victims’ Right and Compensation Regulatory Department (VRCRD)’.
The department will be saddled with the responsibility of investigating complaints from victims of crime or other members of the public.
It provides that a spouse or relative can exercise a victim’s right if the victim dies or becomes incapable of acting on his or her own as a result of the crime.
The bill defines victims as persons who have “suffered harm, including physical or mental injury, emotional suffering, economic loss or substantial impairment of his or her fundamental rights, through acts or omissions that are in violation of our criminal laws.”
Meanwhile, the House received report from the Committee on Human Rights on a Bill for an Act to Amend the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, No. 4 of 2015.
The amendment seeks to include the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management and Social Development in its Governing Board of trafficking prohibition.
It also intends to review the mode of appointing the Director General of the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons and Other Related Matters (NAPTIP), to strengthen the Act by reviewing the offences and penalty provisions.
The report was laid by John Dyegh (PDP, Benue) would be later considered at the Committee of the Whole for approval and third reading.