The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) has strengthened the investigation, prosecution and delivery of justice for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.

The institute organised a multi-agency training-of-trainers on Tuesday in Makurdi.

Speaking during the training, Mufuliat Fijabi, the senior programme manager, End SGBV (ESGBV), International IDEA, said the programme aimed to address existing gaps in handling SGBV cases.

The European Union is funding the ESGBV programme implemented by International IDEA.

Ms Fijabi identified delayed investigations, inadequate evidence collection, weak coordination among service providers, secondary victimisation and limited survivor-centred approaches as some of the challenges confronting survivors.

According to her, addressing the challenges requires coordinated, professional and survivor-sensitive responses from all institutions involved in the justice process.

She described the training as an investment in local capacity and institutional sustainability, urging participants to replicate the knowledge acquired in their respective institutions.

She reaffirmed International IDEA’s commitment to supporting government institutions and stakeholders to build responsive systems that protect survivors’ rights and promote access to justice.

Timothy Ornguga, Benue’s attorney general, said the government was committed to strengthening the prosecution of SGBV cases and ensuring justice for survivors.

Mr Ornguga described SGBV as not only a legal and human rights concern, but also a public health, security and moral issue requiring collective action. He said that survivors often encountered stigma, delays, victim-blaming and secondary victimisation when reporting cases at police stations, hospitals and courts.

Mr Ornguga said Benue had domesticated the Violence Against Persons Law and enacted other relevant legislation, including the Administration of Criminal Justice Law and the Child Rights Law.

The police commissioner, Cletus Nwadiogbu, said that the training was timely, given the need for professional, compassionate and coordinated responses to SGBV cases.

Mr Nwadiogbu said the police had a responsibility not only to investigate cases effectively, but also to protect the dignity, rights, safety, and privacy of survivors, reaffirming the commitment of the police to improving its response to SGBV and ensuring access to justice for survivors.

Selumum Jagudu, GBV desk officer at the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare, said that displacement arising from insecurity increased the vulnerability of women and children to gender-based violence.

Ms Jagudu said that the ministry provided psychosocial support to survivors and referred them to relevant agencies, including the Ministry of Justice, police and medical facilities, depending on their needs.

She, however, identified under-reporting, stigma and fear of retaliation as major challenges affecting efforts to address SGBV in communities.

The officer called for increased public sensitisation to encourage survivors to report cases and access available support services, stressing that the services were free.


(NAN)