Ogun Govt Promises Support For Victims Of GBV

Ogun State government has promised to support survivors of Gender-based Violence (GBV) in the state.

The permanent secretary of the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Adejumoke Adewole stated this while declaring open a 5-day training programme organised by the Ogun State Economic Transformation Project (OGSTEP) in conjunction with the ministry for staff of the Ogun State Assault Referral Centres (SARC) and gender officers in the Ministry of Women Affairs.

The training was part of the global effort on the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) campaign. Participants were trained with the necessary skills to manage the centers effectively and provide critical support to survivors of GBV.

Adewole underscored the state government’s commitment to safeguarding survivors and ensuring that GBV issues were treated with professional and compassionate responses, stating that the training was in line with the global call to action.

She further emphasised the significance of the campaign, which began on Monday, November 25, 2024, with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and continued to Tuesday, December 10, 2024, for the celebration of Human Rights Day, urging participants to take advantage of the training to gain more insight on the management of SARCs.

Also speaking, OGSTEP project coordinator, Mrs Mosun Owo-Odusi, stated that the four Sexual Assault Referral Centers located in Abeokuta, Sagamu, Ijebu-Ode, and Ilaro had been rehabilitated by the state government through OGSTEP, the World Bank-assisted project.

Represented by the Project Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist of OGSTEP, Dr Abiodun Adeeko, Mrs Owo-Odusi commended the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Project Gender Specialists and participants for their dedication to fostering a safer and more inclusive society through capacity-building initiatives.

In her contributions, Gender Specialist of OGSTEP, Mrs Ewajesu Fasina, noted that the training was a crucial step in strengthening the operational capacity of SARCs and ensuring that survivors receive professional and trauma-informed care.

One of the facilitators, Damilola Onebamhoin, said participants should be able to provide trauma-informed care, legal frameworks, case management, data privacy procedures, medical examination/forensic evidence collection and referral protocols, among other areas.

Two of the participants, Mrs Oluwatoyin Orelaja and Mr Idowu Daramola, expressed optimism that the training would enhance their capacity to deliver efficient services and create a safer environment for survivors in the state.