In a bid to enhance the successful prosecution of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) cases in Nigeria, the Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Prof. Fatima Waziri-Azi, emphasized the imperative for the police to possess a comprehensive understanding of the complexities surrounding such crimes.
Addressing participants at a 3-day training session for 30 Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Gender Desk Officers and Police Prosecutors on Handling Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Cases in Abuja, Waziri-Azi stressed the necessity for continuous training of police officers, particularly gender desk officers, to grasp relevant laws, protocols, and investigative techniques essential for gathering evidence, conducting interviews, and navigating the legal dimensions of SGBV cases effectively.
She highlighted the significance of investing in extensive training for law enforcement personnel to facilitate accountability, prevent re-victimization, and ensure justice for survivors, noting NAPTIP’s commitment to collaborating with the Nigeria Police to curb domestic and sexual violence in the FCT, in line with its mandate as the implementing agency for the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act, 2015.
The training, aimed at bolstering the strategic capacities of police gender desk officers and prosecutors in preventing, responding to, and prosecuting SGBV cases in the FCT, builds upon previous initiatives. Waziri-Azi referenced a 10-day residential training conducted in May 2022 by NAPTIP and the Justice Research Institute (JRI) for 40 gender desk officers nationwide, focusing on various aspects of responding to SGBV cases, including investigation techniques, communication strategies, and data management.
Mr. Ikem Isiekwena, Executive Director of JRI, underscored the project’s objective of enhancing the Nigeria Police Force and Federal Capital Territory Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Response Team’s capacity to effectively address violence against women and girls, initiated with support from the Ford Foundation in 2021. He emphasized the importance of adopting a victim-centered approach, prioritizing survivors’ safety, dignity, and rights throughout the investigative and legal processes.
The training culminated in the presentation of vital resources developed under the project, including a Training Manual and Standard Operating Procedure on Preventing, Responding to, and Prosecuting SGBV Cases, as well as the demonstration and transfer of an E-Training Portal for SGBV Courses, designed to augment police officers’ knowledge and skills in combating gender-based violence.
