Prosecuting various forms of Gender-Based Violence, against the surge of such cases during and after the Covid-19 pandemic, is a critical step towards safeguarding human rights, fostering economic growth and advancing gender equality.
As part of its efforts to fight Gender-Based Violence, the AGA-Africa Programme collaborated with the Edo State Ministry of Justice on a highly engaging workshop titled ‘Breaking Barriers: Equipping Agents of Change in Building a Future Free from Gender- Based Violence’ held on 12th-13th September, 2023, in Benin City, Nigeria.
The workshop brought together law officers, judges, lawyers, regulatory agencies, legislators, human rights activists, government officials and national, regional and subject matter experts from Nigeria, Malawi, South Africa and an international subject matter expert from the United States who facilitated virtually.
The workshop was aimed at raising awareness and equipping participants with the knowledge and expertise required in the effective investigation and prosecution of criminal law, particularly incidences of rape and other Gender-Based Violence offences in Nigeria.
Ebelechukwu Enedah, AGA-Africa Programme Country Coordinator for Nigeria kicked off the workshop.
In his opening remarks, Hon. Oluwole Uzzi, Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Edo State, urged participants to aspire for a deeper understanding of this scourge. “Let us equip those who are at the forefront of eradicating it,” he said. He further thanked the organisers for bringing on board a resourceful array of experts to help them do their work better.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Markus Green, AGA-Africa Programme Board Member, called participants to get the most out of the workshop. “We implore you to become agents of change who can make the task of eradicating Gender-Based Violence achievable in our lifetime.”
Hon. Justice Daniel Okungbowa, Chief Judge, Edo State observed thus: “A workshop like this creates a robust platform to address the issue of Gender-Based Violence in order to bring down the formidable barriers in Edo State.”
In her keynote address, Betsy Obaseki, First Lady, Edo State, strongly condemned the vice. “We are declaring zero tolerance in Edo state and we intend to take the lead in Nigeria to sanitise our societies,” she said. “We must continue to invest in capacity building for change such as this to build effective skills for investigation and collaboration.”
The engaging sessions were facilitated by Dr. Elizabeth Iyamu-Oyo, Instructor of Forensic Law, Center for Forensic Programs and DNA Studies, University of Benin, Professor Yinka Omorogbe, Secretary, Corporation Legal Advisor, AIG Austin Iornongu Iwar, Former Inspector General, Nigeria Police Force, Ofulemi Fatunde, Consultant, British Council on the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Component, Titilola Adeniyi, Executive Secretary, Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, Toni Jackson, Partner, Crowell & Morning LLP, Adv. Khensani Motileni, Attorney, Women’s Legal Centre Trust and Grace Jere, Human Rights Lawyer, Human Rights Commission of Malawi.
Betsy Obaseki, First Lady, Edo State delivered the closing remarks as Ebelechukwu Enedah, AGA-Africa Programme Country Coordinator for Nigeria, brought the workshop to a close, thanking the participants for their attendance and participation.
Workshop Outcome
Through this workshop the participants:
- Gained insights on the regulatory frameworks for the investigation and prosecution of the offence of gender-based violence offences.
- Enhanced their understanding on the global trends and practices to curb gender-based violence offences and the need for regulatory reforms.
- Were equipped with the knowledge and skills on critical evidence gathering, preservation and presentation in court.
