OVERVIEW:
Justice Development and Peace Centre (JDPC) Benin Catholic Archdiocese of Benin City is a faith-based non-governmental organization (NGO) that falls under the Department of the Church Social Ministry.
The commission for effective and efficient planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of its program has various departments; Human Rights/Prison Program (HRPP), Election Observation, Free Legal Aid, Empowerment and Development Program (EDP), Political/Civic Awareness/Enlightenment Program (PAEP), Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), Anti Human Trafficking, Good Governance and Democracy, Linkage and Advocacy, Saving and Credit Scheme as well as Community Health Education Programs, Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) Awareness Programs, Environmental protection, Peace Building.
We carry out programs and interventions that help alleviate the sufferings of the poor and other vulnerable persons both Christian and non-Christian and to help restore peace in communities with conflict.
Vision: To champion the cause of humanity through advocacy, justice, and social development to create an inclusive society. Mission: To evolve and execute development programs through implementing people-oriented policies with available resources to achieve desired result of inclusive society.
The Centre has a central secretariat in Benin and also has branches in all the communities in the 7 Local Government. Our vast network across communities makes us very effective in carrying out community-based interventions for two notable reasons. First, the Centre has a vast network of long standing JDPC volunteers, over 100 of them and secondly, the Centre proved community structure that has helped in effectively implementing community-based programs over the years.
STRENGHTENING VOICES AGAINST SEXUAL AND GENDER BASED VIOLENCE
Gender-based violence has been a reoccurring decimal in our society, and there is need to address this issue as women, girls, boys and men are affected. There are various factors that give rise to these acts ranging from cultural, moral, Economic and political factors. In Nigeria, most culture Legitimize Violence against women to ensure the Superiority of men, factors such as Gender stereotype, prejudice and socialization of gender has made women and girls more susceptible to Gender-Base Violence.
Even with the sensitization and awareness campaigns across communities, there is increase in the occurrence of cases of Sexual and Gender-based Violence (SGBV) which calls for more and urgent attention as survivors are scared to speak out or report cases to the appropriate channels for fear of being shamed or mocked which then leave survivors to continue to suffer in silence. This accounts for low level of reporting of Gender base violence cases in the state. Most of the persons especially women who suffer this faith are usually ignorant of what to do and some are economically handicapped. Ignorance coupled with low economic power makes them more exposed to acts of violence. Women generally have been victims of abuse and left uneducated there by making them ignorant of their rights.
This project seeks to check the excesses caused by SGBV on women by enlightening people as well as relevant stakeholder in Oredo and Egor Local Government Areas on the relevant fundamental human rights of survivors as well as existing laws and sanctions. The project also seek to enlighten men and young boys to speak out and to be a voice in cases of SGBV when they suffer this faith as men in most cases do not speak out. JDPC Benin in 2022 recorded 22 cases of SGBV reported by 21 female and 1 male.
ACHIEVEMENTS
The project carried outCourtesy visit / entry meeting to Ministry of justice, Uwelu community, Useh community, FIDA, Commissioner of Police, Ministry of Social Development and Gender Issues, Edo Sexual Assault Center (Vivian Center), Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN).
They also carried out Sensitization/ awareness campaign in Iyoba girls school, Overcomer’s group of schools, technical college, Benin city, Wisdom group of school, Olua primary school, God’s favour group school, Ogida secondary school, Our Lady of Apostles Premier College, Holy Child Christian Academy, Our Lady of Apostles Primary School, St. Jude Thaddeus Nursery, Primary and Secondary School and in IDP camp Benin city
Sensitization/ awareness campaign in Ogheghe market, Egor market, Uselu market, Uwelu market, Useh market. Ugbighoko market, Egbaen Market, Egor market, Oliha market, Evbotubu market, Oghede Market, Lagos Street Market.
Sensitization/ awareness campaign Egba Bike park, Milan junction Tricycle (keke) park and in Useh community
Focus Group Discussion/ Training..
Challenges:
Delayed response from ministry of Education
Hike in fuel prices leading to increment in transportation.
Delayed cooperation of the officials in IDP camp
Unpredicted weather condition
Restricted access for taking pictures in government schools
Restricted access to all the students in some schools.
Bad roads leading to parks, markets and communities
Some persons do not want to listen to discussion on Sexual and Gender Based Violence.
Fear of stigmatization makes some survivors not to speak out.
Religious Belief has made some of the people not to take the message on Sexual and Gender Based Violence serious – that it is their cross and they will carry it.
Success Stories:
Warmth reception and acceptance by the Useh community leaders
Collaboration with ministry of social development and gender issues, Edo Sexual Assault Center(Vivian center), Edo State Security Vigilante Network, Commissioner of Police, FIDA, community leaders in Useh community on matters of SGBV
Warmth reception and acceptance by FOMWAN, Uwelu community leaders, Iyoba girls school principal, Solution Demonstration school principal and teachers.
Market sensitization increased the awareness of SGBV and the reporting mechanism. It also created a platform for women to share their experiences, Men’s active participation and contribution to SGBV issues, Majority of Schools visited have invited Project Team to their Parents Teachers Association Meetings to also enlighten parents/guardians on Sexual and Gender Based Violence, Most Schools have promised to set up Gender Desk Office/ Counselor to guide the Students, Project team has traced the family of Godswill to Udo community, the little boy that was found by 2:00am.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Having gone round and seen the peoples reactions and responses we recommend that Sexual and Gender Based Violence should not be left for some settled few to talk about, rather it should included in our school Curriculum, school should create gender desk with counsellor on ground to always attend to students when they come.
Our Religious leaders should always find time in every gathering to talk about Sexual and Gender Based Violence so their members will be abreast.
Security personnel should treat cases of Sexual and Gender Based Violence reported to them with urgency as the delay makes the victim tired of pursuing the case.
Picture Speaks
Member of the project team addressing the Edo state security vigilante network
Project team and Edo state security vigilante network
Member of the project team addressing the staff of Edo Sexual Assault Centre
Project team and staff of Edo Sexual Assault
Entry meeting with the staff of the ministry of social development and gender issues
Project team and the Directors of Ministry of Social Development and Gender Issues
Project team and members of FOMWAN
Member of the project team addressing the members of FOMWAN
Member of the project team addressing community leaders in Uwelu community
Group photograph with community leaders in Uwelu community
Group photograph with community leaders in Useh community
Project team member addressing the community leaders in Useh community
Project team and Staff of FIDA
Project team addressing Staff of FIDA
Pproject team addressing the members of the Nigeria police force
Members of the Nigeria police force and project team
Sensitization / awareness campaign in Solution Demonstration group of school
Sensitization/ awareness campaign in Iyoba girl’s school
Sensitization / awareness campaign in Uselu market
Sensitization / awareness campaign in technical college Benin city
Sensitization/ awareness campaign in Uwelu market
Sensitization/ awareness campaign in Milan junction Tricycle (keke) park
Group photograph with community members of Useh
Representative of the Enogie of useh giving a welcome speech during the town hall meeting
Sensitization in IDP camp
Sensitization/awareness campaign in wisdom group of school
Project Team and staff of Olua primary school
Sensitization / awareness campaign in Ogida senior School
Sensitization/ awareness campaign in Ogheghe market
Sensitization/ awareness campaign in Ugbighoko market
Sensitization/ awareness campaign in God’s Favour group of schools
SGBV Sensitization carried out in Egbaen market by Project Team
Project Team carying out SGBV Sensitization in Oliha market
Project Team carrying Sensitization on SGBV in Egba Bike Park.
Project Team carried out SGBV Sensitization in Evbotubu Market
SGBV Sensitization carried out in Useh Market by Project Team
Project Team carried out SGBV Sensitization in Egor Market
Focus group discussion/ SGBV capacity strengthening training of stakeholders
Group Photograph with Stakeholders on SGBV Capacity Training
Project Team addressing Internally Displaced Persons in the camp on SGBV
Sensitization at Our Lady of Apostles Premier College
|
Sensitization on SGBV at Holy Child Christian Academy
Sensitization at St Jude Thaddeus College
Sensitization at St Jude Thaddeus Nursery and Primary School
Sensitization at Our Lady of Apostles Nursery and Primary School
Sexual and gender based sensitization at Adolor Market Sexual and gender based sensitization at Lagos street Market
Sexual and gender based sensitization at Oghede Market Simplified version of the Edo state Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law Distributing Simplified version of the Edo state Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law to schools
Project Team with parents of Godswill after a succesful family tracing |
