The Edo Government is reviewing the Violence Against Persons Prohibition VAPP Law 2021 to address implementation gaps and strengthen legal protection against sexual and gender-based violence including technology-facilitated abuse.
The review was discussed on Friday in Benin at a Consultative Forum on Strengthening Policy Implementation for SGBV Prevention in Edo convening government agencies civil society security institutions and development partners collaboratively.
At the forum Mrs Edesili Okpebholo-Anani Coordinator Office of the Governor’s Wife and Chairperson Gender-Based Violence Management Committee emphasised protecting women girls children from violence and ensuring timely survivor assistance.
Okpebholo-Anani said survivors should be treated with compassion and dignity rather than blamed or stigmatised adding women and girls needed to understand their rights and know where to seek help.
She said the committee would continue promoting rights of women and children through advocacy community engagement public enlightenment and sustained collaboration with relevant institutions across Edo for progress.
Okpebholo-Anani called for greater awareness of gender-based violence in schools including establishment or strengthening of clubs in primary and secondary schools across Edo North Central alongside South.
She explained clubs would help children understand personal safety appropriate boundaries respect for others and importance of reporting abuse early to trusted adults teachers and relevant authorities promptly.
Okpebholo-Anani urged parents to maintain open communication with their children and ask questions about their safety while encouraging teachers administrators to take abuse reports seriously and refer appropriately.
She emphasised boys could also be victims of violence and sexual abuse although girls were more frequently affected by gender-based violence across communities in Edo presently.
Okpebholo-Anani urged parents to pay equal attention to safety and well-being of male and female children ask about experiences and encourage them to speak out whenever uncomfortable.
She said parents should not assume boys were less vulnerable to abuse adding open communication could help children feel safe reporting incidents and seeking assistance promptly without fear.
Okpebholo-Anani also expressed concern about sexual abuse within families explaining some children might not recognise inappropriate conduct as abuse or could be afraid to speak out because of relationship.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Eugenia Abdallah, said review provided iopportunity to address gaps in law implementation and strengthen coordination among institutions preventing and responding to SGBV.
Abdallah emphasised importance of survivor-centred approach involving government agencies security institutions health workers justice-sector actors and civil society organisations working together to ensure protection justice and support.
She said survivors needed access to protection support services and justice while their privacy and dignity were safeguarded throughout reporting investigation prosecution and rehabilitation processes in Edo.
Mrs Priscilla Usiobaifo, Founder and Executive Director of BraveHeart Initiative for Youth and Women, urged stakeholders to make practical contributions to review based on experience preventing and responding to violence.
Usiobaifo emphasised need to examine existing provisions carefully identify areas requiring amendment and propose changes that would improve implementation and strengthen institutional responses to reported gender-based violence cases statewide.
She highlighted importance of prompt and thorough investigations and effective prosecution noting survivors could face barriers to reporting abuse and obtaining justice due to stigma fear and limited awareness.
Usiobaifo also emphasised public awareness particularly in communities where limited knowledge of human rights and law could prevent survivors from seeking assistance and accessing justice and support services.
She called for stronger collaboration between government institutions and civil society organisations to improve referrals and access to legal psychosocial and other support services for survivors across Edo.
The Edo Coordinator of Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Programme (RoLAC), Mrs Uche Nwokedi, delivered goodwill message on behalf of International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA).
Nwokedi commended Edo Government for taking steps to strengthen prevention and response to gender-based violence through inclusive consultation policy review and strengthened multi-stakeholder collaboration across Edo.
She described VAPP Law as critical instrument for protecting fundamental rights promoting access to justice and ensuring accountability for acts of violence against women girls and children statewide.
Nwokedi said review provided opportunity to strengthen legal framework for addressing gender-based violence and enhancing coordination protection and accountability mechanisms across Edo institutions and communities.
In technical presentation, Mr Imonitie Omokhodion of RoLAC highlighted areas requiring attention in review including emerging forms of technology-facilitated abuse and gaps in existing legal framework needing urgent amendment.
He said the proposed amendments included provisions addressing cyberstalking sextortion non-consensual recording or sharing of intimate images AI-generated intimate material online harassment unlawful tracking and unauthorised disclosure of personal information online.
Omokhodion also highlighted need to strengthen provisions on digital evidence improve handling of SGBV cases and enhance coordination among institutions responsible for investigation prosecution and survivor support services statewide.
On penalties for rape and gang rape, Omokhodion proposed life imprisonment for both offences to ensure deterrence accountability and justice for survivors while strengthening protection under amended VAPP Law.
He explained under the proposal, every individual involved in gang rape would face life imprisonment as would person convicted of rape committed by single perpetrator under proposed amended law.
The proposed amendments remain subject to further consideration as review process continues with stakeholders expected to submit additional inputs before final validation and legislative action in Edo.
A representative of Edo Ministry of Justice, Omage Dimowo, highlighted importance of strengthening legal response to SGBV and improving handling of cases through effective investigation prosecution and coordination with relevant agencies.
Dr Paul Eighemhenrio, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health representing the Commissioner, Dr Cyril Oshiomhole, highlighted health sector role in responding to SGBV through medical care and referrals.
He emphasised the importance of providing medical care, documenting cases appropriately, safeguarding survivors confidentiality and referring them for further support where necessary within health system and partner organisations statewide.
During stakeholders input session participants considered recommendations aimed at strengthening implementation of law and improving survivors access to justice through enhanced coordination, evidence handling and referral pathways statewide.
Recommendations included improving coordination among relevant agencies, strengthening preservation and handling of physical and digital evidence enhancing survivor support confidentiality and improving referral pathways between health security justice institutions.
Participants also called for greater public awareness of law and more effective investigation and prosecution of cases to build trust deterrence and confidence in justice system across Edo.
They emphasised the need to ensure reports of sexual and gender-based violence were not dismissed as private or family matters and survivors could report safely accessing medical psychosocial and legal assistance.
Recommendations are expected to inform further consideration of proposed amendments as review process continues with commitment to strengthen legal protection survivor support and institutional response across Edo.
Mrs Joy Ihensekhien, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, urged sustained stakeholder collaboration towards strengthening prevention of and response to sexual and gender-based violence statewide.