PRAWA lauds judgment on vagrancy law, tasks government on implementation 

Prisoners’ Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA) has hailed the landmark ruling of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which declared that vagrancy laws are inconsistent and inconsonant with the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights, Children’s Rights Charter and Women Rights Protocol.     
   
According to PRAWA, the judgement is a major boost to the campaign to decriminalize and declassify petty offences in Africa. The group therefore called on the government of Nigeria to take immediate action by repealing laws that are in breach of Articles 2,3,5 and 6 of the African Charter. 
   
“Sadly, Nigeria is one of the countries that still retain some aspects of colonial laws that criminalize poverty, in their lawbooks. 
 
“These disproportionate laws are targeted at the uneducated and disadvantaged poor people (hawkers, street beggars, sex workers etc.) whose means of livelihoods are criminalized without any alternatives. 

In the FCT, the Abuja Environmental Protection Board has reduced not only the amount of fine given to petty offenders, but also the rate at which offenders are sent to custodial facilities has substantially reduced.