A Non-Governmental Organisation, Women’s Rights and Health Project (WRAHP), has tasked journalists on increased reportage and documentation of all forms of sexual and gender-based violence so as to reduce the incidence against women and girls.
Bose Ironsi, executive director of WRAHP, said strengthening reporting channels would significantly improve the likelihood of prosecution of offenders of violence against women.
Speaking Tuesday at a sensitization meeting for media representatives on effective documentation of reporting Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) cases held in Benin City, Ironsi said an estimated 1 in 3 women experience either physical or sexual abuse in their lifetime.
She said as part of efforts to address the challenge, the women’s rights group with support from Open Society Foundation (OSF) implemented a 21-month project on enhancing gender equality and protection from gender-based violence for women and young girls in Edo State.
“The general objective of this initiative was to improve protection from SGBV for women and young girls through Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law in Edo State.
“It was also geared towards increasing awareness of the provisions of the VAPP law among 5,000 community members in two local government areas in Edo State, as well as strengthen reporting pathways for survivors of SGBV through mandated reporters in two council areas of the state,” Ironsi said.
The executive director pointed out that improved sensitization and awareness creation across the state on the implementation of the VAPP law would effectively address violence against women and girls in Edo State.
