A three-day comprehensive training programme, organised by the United Nations Population Fund in collaboration with the Oyo State Government and the Centre for Comprehensive Promotion of Reproductive Health UCH, urged public prosecutors and defence counsels to prioritise justice, equity, and conscience in human rights violations.
The training, held at Bodija in Ibadan from December 19-21, 2024, brought together distinguished speakers, Lawyer Modupe Helen Awosemusi and Mrs Balikis Oluwakemi Olawoyin, to sensitise lawyers on the provisions of the VAAP Law of Oyo State. The programme aimed to familiarise lawyers with the impact of sexual gender-based violence (SGBV) and the importance of handling human rights violation cases effectively and efficiently.
Lawyer Modupe Awosenusi emphasised the need for a survivor-centred approach to prosecution, highlighting the importance of understanding the offences that attract criminal penalties, the issuance of protection orders, civil remedies, and compensation for survivors. Mrs. Balikis Oluwakemi Olawoyin discussed Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), its consequences, and the importance of community engagement and advocacy for survivors.
The training program also identified challenges affecting the speedy and effective prosecution of SGBV cases, including cultural biases, weak institutional support, and the absence of IPOs at court proceedings. Other challenges mentioned included adjournment of cases due to court vacations and holidays, unsigned and improper documentation, and stigmatisation.
The program ended with the reading and adoption of a communiqué. Top legal practitioners attended, including Barrister Ademubowale Adelabu, the State Director of Prosecutions in Oyo State, and Olusola Sulaymon, the Federation of International Women Lawyers (FIDA) Chairperson.
As research has shown, laws against GBV can have a preventive effect, and survivors-centred justice is essential for ending gender-based violence. The training program is crucial to fostering a symbiotic relationship among legal actors and stakeholders to provide comprehensive outreach support for SGBV survivors.
