Police officers in Ogun State have received training on how to handle gender-based violence (GBV) cases with greater sensitivity, protect survivors’ rights and prevent victims from suffering further trauma during investigations.

The two-day capacity-building workshop was organised by the Ogun State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in collaboration with the APIN Public Health Initiative to strengthen police responses to sexual assault, domestic violence and other forms of abuse.

The training focused on equipping officers with practical skills to respond to survivors with dignity, preserve evidence, maintain confidentiality and ensure access to medical, psychological and legal support.

Declaring the workshop open, the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mrs Adebimpe Folusho Obienu, said the programme was designed to improve security officers’ capacity to handle GBV cases in a coordinated, rights-based and survivor-centred manner.

She said it would also strengthen officers’ understanding of safe referral procedures and post-violence care while enabling them to discharge their statutory responsibilities, particularly investigations, effectively.

The sessions examined common misconceptions about GBV, its various forms, causes, risk factors and wider societal impact.

Participants also received guidance on providing appropriate care, including medical treatment, psychological support, legal assistance and safety planning.

Emphasis was placed on the importance of thorough police investigations and compliance with relevant laws and prosecutorial requirements to ensure that cases are properly documented and supported by credible evidence before they are brought before the courts.

Officers were trained on how to respond to reports of abuse at crime scenes and police stations, with particular attention to survivors’ safety, privacy, dignity and freedom from discrimination.

Facilitators stressed the need for sensitive communication and appropriate interviewing techniques to avoid exposing survivors to further distress while recounting their experiences.

Other areas covered included obtaining informed consent, preserving evidence, maintaining confidentiality and establishing effective referral pathways to Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) and healthcare facilities across the state.

Participants were also reminded of the need for prompt medical assessment following sexual violence.

Facilitators highlighted the importance of administering post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), where indicated, within 72 hours of possible HIV exposure to reduce the risk of infection.

The workshop addressed appropriate responses to cases involving children, intimate-partner violence, domestic abuse, sexual assault and exploitation, alongside safeguarding measures for vulnerable survivors.

Officers also reviewed relevant provisions of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act 2015, particularly Section 1, and discussed the responsibilities of police gender units, Family Support Units, SARCs and social welfare agencies in ensuring coordinated support for survivors.

Participants practised responding to disclosures of abuse, assessing risks, documenting incidents and referring survivors to appropriate services.

Discussions also examined gaps in existing response mechanisms, professional conduct, accountability and ways to address secondary trauma among officers who routinely handle distressing cases.