Edo State Government Strengthens Collaboration To Tackle Gender-Based Violence

By Rosemary Okoduwa

The Edo State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to combating Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), calling for stronger stakeholder collaboration to improve survivor support, prosecution and access to justice. The commitment was made by the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Eugenia Abdallah, at a South-South SGBV Stakeholders’ Consultative Meeting held at the John Odigie Oyegun Public Service Academy (JOOPSA), Benin City.

The Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development convened the meeting in collaboration with the Caring Heart Initiative for Advocacy, Development and Empowerment (CHIADE), with support from Gender and Development Action (GADA) and the South-South SGBV Prevention Information Hub.

Abdallah said the meeting would assess Edo State’s SGBV prevention and response systems, review implementation of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law and identify gaps in prevention, response and prosecution. She commended Governor Monday Okpebholo for protecting women, children and vulnerable persons, stressing that governance must also be measured by lives protected and dignity restored. She acknowledged the collaboration of the Coordinator, Office of the First Lady, Mrs. Edesili Okpebholo Anani, in advocacy, community mobilisation and survivor support.

The Commissioner urged participants to turn policies and discussions into measurable action, ensuring survivors receive protection, dignity and access to justice while perpetrators are held accountable.

In her presentation, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Joy Ihensekhien, outlined the state’s interventions, noting that its structured SGBV response gained momentum during the COVID-19 pandemic. She highlighted the SGBV One-Stop Response Centre at New Benin Market, where medical personnel, lawyers, police officers and counsellors provide assistance and referrals.

Ihensekhien disclosed that the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, 2021, is undergoing its five-year review, alongside efforts to develop policies addressing technology-facilitated gender-based violence, including cyberbullying and stalking. She added that the Gender-Based Violence Management Committee, chaired by the First Lady, meets quarterly to assess reports and interventions, while the Ministry has secured a dedicated budget line for SGBV programmes. She identified the withdrawal of complaints by victims or their families during prosecution as a major challenge but reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to pursuing cases and securing justice.

The Executive Director of CHIADE, Mrs. Grace Obakina, said the consultation would assess prevention, response and prosecution mechanisms, evaluate implementation of the VAPP Law and identify areas for collective intervention. She urged stakeholders to strengthen institutional accountability and coordination while protecting survivors’ confidentiality, dignity and rights.

Speaking on the Benin Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC), Dr. Faith Edebor said its integrated system brings together medical professionals, counsellors, security agencies and the judiciary, enabling survivors to access medical and psychosocial care while their cases receive appropriate attention within the justice system.

Representatives of civil society organisations and the Edo State Police Command, including Mrs. Ronke Ojeikere and the Officer in Charge of the Police Gender Unit, called for sustained collaboration, capacity building, prompt police response, survivor-centred investigations and zero tolerance for extortion. The police representative reported an increase in cases and suspects charged to court between 2025 and 2026, reaffirming the Command’s commitment to protecting survivors and pursuing justice.

Mrs. Mercy Uujamhan, representing the Edo State Multi-Door Courthouse, clarified that the institution handles appropriate civil and family disputes through alternative dispute resolution, while criminal matters, including SGBV offences, must be referred to the appropriate justice system.

The meeting concluded with a call for stronger partnerships, effective referral systems, sustained capacity building and improved survivor-centred services to strengthen Edo State’s response to sexual and gender-based violence and ensure victims receive protection and justice.