By Simeon OSAJIE
The Women Aid Collective (WACOL) in collaboration with the Rule of Law and Anti-corruption (RoLAC) have organised two day training programme for State Response and Referral Groups on emergency response and referrals on better ways to strengthen Gender Based Violence (GBV) in Edo State.
The training, which took place on Thursday, 7th to Friday 8th May, 2026, at the ADJ Royal Hotel and Suites in Benin City, is aimed at strengthening the operational capacity of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Management Committees and Sexual Assault Referral Centres across the State.
It focuses on improving participants’ knowledge and skills in emergency response, case management, and referral processes for survivors of GBV and child abuse, while enhancing collaboration among relevant stakeholders to ensure timely intervention, proper protection of victims, and improved access to justice and support services.
Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Prince Kassim Afegbua, commended RoLAC for organising the training. He stressed the need for proper sensitisation, publicity, and campaigns, to encourage victims of abuse to speak up without fear, noting that silence often prevents justice from being served. He also emphasised the importance of strengthening institutions that protect victims and support them in seeking justice.
The Commissioner recommended the need for collaboration with the Ministry of Information and Strategy, noting that such partnership would help disseminate key messages and communiqués to the public across local government areas and senatorial districts through the Ministry’s Public Relations Officers, who have undergone several capacity-building programmes. He urged the group to work closely with the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, which plays a vital role in addressing GBV and sexual assaults.
A consultant with the Womenaid Collective and lecturer at the University of Enugu, Prof. Sylver Anya, explained that GBV refers to any form of violence or abuse committed against a person, especially such acts which constitute a violation of fundamental human rights protected under international law. He emphasised the importance of the survivor-centred approach, describing it as a professional guide that helps responders engage with survivors of sexual and GBV with care, respect, and dignity. He noted that the approach creates a safe and supportive environment for survivors to express their needs, while standard response procedures help ensure their safety, recovery, and overall well-being.
The Senior Legal and Programme Officer at Women Aid Collective, Dr. Helen Kalu, said the programme was designed to equip stakeholders with the knowledge to prioritise the well-being of survivors, describing it as the most critical aspect of responding to GBV cases. She emphasised that survivors must first be kept safe and healthy, noting that justice is only meaningful when the survivor is alive to receive it.
Dr. Kalu explained that while some survivors recover naturally, others require psychosocial support, psychological first aid, and medical care to heal. She warned that failure to provide such support could lead to depression and other harmful outcomes, including self-harm, and stressed the need for appropriate care for all survivors.
In her remarks, the Officer-in-Charge of Gender at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Edo State Police Command, SP. Andrew Miriam, assured stakeholders of the Command’s commitment to the fight against GBV, stressing that tackling the menace requires a collective effort. She noted that the Unit remains open to receiving complaints and working closely with relevant stakeholders to ensure justice is served..
Day Two of the training programme focuses on addressing the Needs of Specific Groups, such as Child Survivors, Adolescent Girls, People with Disabilities, Old Women, Male Survivor (Men and Boys), the Documentation, Data, and Monitoring, Coordination, Communications Informing Service Providers about these SOPs.
The third session of the training programme by Dr. Helen Kalu focuses on Presentation of Steering Committee Terms or Reference and Presentation of Annual Action Work Plan.
Speaking to journalists, Mrs. Esosa Onegbamon, from the Edo State Ministry of Women affairs and Social Development, Gender, Focal Person, said the sessions for the two days training effort has been productive and rewarding.
She said for their SARC personnel, the training will help them to deliver effectively as they carry out their counselling, investigation and prosecution.