ABOUT

ORGANISTIONAL BACKGROUND

Justice Development and Peace Centre (JDPC) Catholic Archdiocese of Benin City is a faith-based non-governmental organization (NGO) that falls under the Department of the Church’s 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 and Peace Building.

We carry out programs and interventions that help alleviate the sufferings of the poor and other vulnerable persons, Christians and non-Christian and to help restore peace in communities with conflict. The Centre is registered with the Corporate Affairs commission of Nigeria with registration Number CAC/IT/NO 40003 in August 2010.

Vision: To champion the cause of humanity through advocacy, justice, and social development to create an inclusive society. Mission: To evolve and execute developmental programs through implementing people-oriented policies with available resources to achieve desired result of inclusive society.

The Centre’s activities covers the geographical area of Edo South Senatorial District which embraces 7 Local Government Areas namely: Oredo, Ikpoba Okha, Egor, Ovia South-West, Ovia North-East, Uhunmwonde, and Orhionmon. The Centre has a 3 member of Trustees and 15 Commission members headed by the Catholic Archbishop of the metropolitan see of Benin City, the Coordinator who is a priest, and a legal adviser. JDPC Benin has a regular staff strength of Eight (8) headed by the Archdiocesan Coordinator who is the head of the management structures and is responsible for the day to day running of the organization in union with the other staff.

The Centre has a central Secretariat in Benin City and also has branches in all the communities in the 7 Local Government Areas operated through its Parishes. 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.

PROBLEM STATEMENT

Gender based violence has been a reoccurring decimal in our society, and there is need to address this issue as women, girls and men are affected. There are various factors that give rise to this 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 Based 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 based 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.

During the lockdown due to the Covid 19 Pandemic about 50 cases were recorded in Edo State from April 2020 to May 2020 as reported by Edo State Ministry of Social Development and Gender Issues in Punch Newspaper of June 6, 2020.

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.

OUTCOME

  • More persons are informed on GBV issues and a proper reporting system of GBV cases. OUTCOME
  • Community heads, Government and Non-Government stakeholders are trained on SGBV and its dangers. OUTPUT
  • Community heads/stakeholders mobilized to take collective responsibility to fight against SGBV in their communities including Internally Displaced Camp. OUTCOME
  • Increased collaborative strategies with Government and Non-Government stakeholders to strengthen preventive mechanism as well as accountability and justice system to bring perpetrators to books.
  • Established relationship with local security outfits (Vigilante)

OBJECTIVES

Overall Objective: To reduce cases of Sexual and Gender Based Violence in Oredo and Egor LGA’ and strengthen the capacity of State and Non-State Actors in handling SGBV cases.

  • To increase survivors understanding of SGBV and possible justice channels.
  • Increase understanding of 5000 women, youths and men on the dangers of SGBV and Human Trafficking
  • To facilitate the report of cases of violation of human rights which include SGBV.
  • To provide referral services and assist victims in making well informed choices.
  • Support prosecution of SGBV cases through referrals and attendance of court sitting.
  • To strengthen community based SGBV report system.
  • To create collaborative relationships with other stakeholders in the fight against SGBV.
  • To increase collaborative strategies with Government and Non-Government stakeholders to strengthen preventive mechanism as well as accountability and justice system to bring perpetrators to book.
  • To collaborate with community security outfits (Vigilante) to handle judiciously issues of SGBV and Human Trafficking

APPROACH

JDPC Benin in implementing this project will adopt the experience and community based approached. The community based approach help us to identify, communities where cases of SGBV are prevalent and survivors are directly through community heads / traditional rulers, market women, Youth Leader, Local Government head and other relevant stakeholders etc. This in turn also helps us identify the root or direct causes of SGBV in the selected communities’ thereby proffering solutions to these identified problems.

JDPC Benin carries out activities on SGBV as one of its thematic areas in Edo South Senatorial District of Edo State. Over the years we have also recorded a huge number of SGBV cases in the state. Oredo and Egor LGA’s have also recorded increased rate of SGBV. JDPC Benin in partnership with other CSO’s record at least 2 SGBV Cases in every month.

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