By Ikhili Ebalu, Benin City
The New Apostolic Centre for Development (NCD) organised project on awareness campaign On Gender Based Violence in Benin led to more citizens accessible the Vivian center to report cases of violence.
Going by statistics, the number of reported cases increased from about 600 cases to 1074 within the 6 months of the project .
Going by statistics, the number of reported cases increased from about 600 cases to 1074 within the 6 months of the project .
A member of the NCD Board of Trustee (BOT), Mr. Victor Oriakhi disclosed this on Tuesday while briefing journalists on the activities Of the center On issues of sexual and gender based violence in six months.
According to Mr oriaki the body has set up a desk office in Benin City, Edo State capital to handle sexual and gender based violence referral issues.
He stated that the office is working closely with the Vivian Centre established by Edo State government to manage issues of sexual and gender based violence.
According to him, “the centre has handled two cases, and out of the two cases, one was referred to the Vivian Centre while the other one was referred to the Edo State Ministry of Justice.
“ it is about the last activity on NCD Preventing Trafficking in Persons and Responding to Gender Based Violence (GBV) in Edo State, project which centre has been implementing since June 2022.”
Oriakhi highlighted the successes recorded with the project and showcase areas for follow up so as to sustain the fight against human trafficking and gender based violence in the State.
“The project was part of the Agents for Citizen-Driven Transformation Programme funded by the European Union and implemented by the British Council in Nigeria,” he said.
Going further, the NCD Board member added, “available reports from NAPTIP, International Organisation for Migration (IMO), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and other organisations confirm this position. The NCD project acknowledged the role of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) in dealing with the challenge of human trafficking.
Adding that, the project also took note of effort by Edo State government to tackle human trafficking and other forms of gender based violence through the Edo State Taskforce against Human Trafficking (ETAHT) established in August, 2017, whose work has been backed by law, as well as the effort and proclamation of the Oba of Benin. The project as well recognized the operationalization of Edo State Violent Against Persons Prohibition Law, leading the establishment of the Vivian Centre and the constitution of the GBV management committee.
He further said the project activities were built around collaboration with government agencies, CSOs, media Practitioners and others, capacity building around legal framework on human trafficking, GBV as well as government response, extensive public awareness activities involving town hall meeting, development and airing of radio jingles, featuring on radio to discuss the issues, design and dissemination of newsletter, the sharing of podcast on social media, production of IEC materials and press conference.
He stated that, the project goal was to increase awareness on the danger of trafficking in persons and improve response to sexual and gender based violence in Edo State.
Speaking on the objectives of NCD, Mr. Oriakhi said it was meant , “(1) to strengthen the capacity of women led organizations and vulnerable groups to understand the provisions of relevant laws that responds to trafficking in persons and GBV in Edo State; (2) to undertake public awareness activities to prevent trafficking in person and increase awareness on the role of the sexual assault referral Centre (Vivian Centre) in Edo States.”
According to Mr. Oriakhi, “we are glad to inform you that the project has largely achieved the purpose for which it was designed and has also thrown up emerging issues that will require follow up actions by civil society organizations, media and the public.
“The training and extensive public awareness activities have led to more citizens accessing the Edo State Sexual Assault Referral Centre (Vivian Centre) to report GBV cases. Record obtained from the Vivian Centre showed that the centre recorded more cases between June and November 2022 when NCD implemented the preventing human trafficking and responding to gender based violence in Edo State project.