Three communities in Ondo State have adopted community-specific Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) aimed at strengthening local efforts to prevent and combat gender-based violence.
The communities Oba-Ile, Iju and Ilara-Mokinare located in Akure North and Ifedore Local Government Areas.
The initiative was implemented by the Rule of Law and Empowerment Initiative (Partners West Africa Nigeria), PWAN, under its Strengthening Police Community Engagement to Prevent and Combat Gender-Based Violence in Nigeria project.
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PWAN Promotes Community Ownership
Speaking at the adoption programme in Akure, PWAN Executive Director, Kemi Okenyodo, said the initiative was designed to give communities a greater role in preventing gender-based violence and addressing harmful practices that contribute to abuse.
Kemi Okenyodo, who was represented by PWAN Programme Assistant, Oreoluwa Fatuyi, said the project had been implemented in Ondo, Kano, Kaduna, Ebonyi and Niger states.
She explained that the project places strong emphasis on prevention, community ownership, capacity building and public awareness.
“We officially adopted the community specific SOP for three communities Oba-Ile, Iju and Ilara-Mokin spread across Ifedore and Akure North LGAs,” she said.
According to her, PWAN had spent more than 18 months working with community members and law enforcement personnel to strengthen local mechanisms for preventing and responding to gender-based violence.
Traditional Leaders Key To GBV Prevention
Kemi Okenyodo said the project deliberately focused on prevention because many factors contributing to gender-based violence are rooted in harmful social and cultural practices.
She noted that traditional and community leaders were particularly important because of their influence within their communities.
“When you look at gender-based violence, there is a lot that is done in response. This project is heavy on prevention of gender-based violence. It comes from the angle of local ownership community members taking ownership to prevent and combat gender-based violence,” she said.
She added that community members and traditional leaders could play a significant role in challenging practices and beliefs that contribute to violence against women and girls.
“We thought to engage the community members right from the grassroots to do their part in eradicating what we call gender-based violence in their communities,” she said.
SOPs Developed From Community Feedback
The PWAN Executive Director said law enforcement personnel and community members were trained as part of the project, while awareness sessions were also held in community town halls.
She explained that the Standard Operating Procedures’ were developed from feedback gathered during an earlier phase of the intervention, making them specific to the realities and needs of each community.
The procedures are expected to remain in place beyond the project period, with community-based Gender-Based Violence Task Forces serving as focal points for implementation.
Kemi Okenyodo said the task forces were formed from within the communities and include traditional leaders, youth representatives, women representatives and persons with disabilities.
She stressed that the task forces were not created by PWAN but were established as part of the community ownership approach.
Survivor Protection Built Into The Procedures
According to Kemi Okenyodo, the adopted Standard Operating Procedures’ also contain safeguards aimed at protecting survivors of gender-based violence.
She highlighted provisions relating to confidentiality and the handling of cases, particularly the withdrawal of complaints.
She said members of the task forces were not permitted to pressure survivors into withdrawing cases, stressing the importance of protecting survivors while ensuring that Gender-Based Violence cases receive appropriate attention.
Kemi Okenyodo disclosed that five communities were initially involved in the project, but three were eventually selected for the adoption of the Standard Operating Procedures’ based on their level of participation and commitment.
Persons With Disabilities Seek Greater Support
Also speaking at the event, Ondo State Chairman of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities, Abiodun Olusegun, called for greater attention to the vulnerability of persons with disabilities to violence and abuse.
Abiodun Olusegun appealed to government and civil society organisations to expand opportunities for persons with disabilities through employment, skills development and access to livelihood support.
“We are soliciting the government and civil society organisations to please rise up to our challenges. Those that are having nothing to do should be empowered with tools,” he said.
He also called for employment opportunities for qualified persons with disabilities and urged members of the disability community to speak out when they experience violence or abuse.
The adoption of the community specific Standard Operating Procedures’ is expected to strengthen coordination among community leaders, residents, law enforcement personnel and other relevant actors in preventing and responding to gender-based violence in the three communities.
