The first lady of Edo State, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki, has called on all stakeholders in the fight against gender-based violence to cooperate and commit to curbing the menace in the state and anywhere in the country.

She made the plea during a two-day workshop organised by the Ministry of Justice in collaboration with the Attorney General Alliance (AGA) Africa, held at the John Oyegun Training Centre in Benin City.

The theme of the workshop was, “Equipping Agents of Change in Building a Future Free from Gender-Based Violence.”

It aimed at arming participants with the knowledge and tools needed to combat gender-based violence effectively, and build a safer and more inclusive future for all.
The Edo first lady who was at the workshop in dual capacity, representing her husband and Governor of the state, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, and serving

In her keynote address as the Chair of the Edo State Gender-Based Violence Management Committee, she highlighted significant strides made in combating gender-based violence within the state.

These achievements, she disclosed, included the passage of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law, the establishment of a robust Gender-Based Violence Management Committee, and the creation of a state-of-the-art Sexual Assault Referral Centre equipped with a shelter for women.

Additionally, she said the state offers free medical and legal services to victims of gender-based violence.

Emphasising the importance of ensuring that these initiatives operate effectively to achieve their intended objectives, given the profound impact of gender-based violence on individuals and society as a whole, Mrs. Obaseki urged participants to take the work of curving GBV seriously.

“Let us all take this work of GBV seriously. When people are abused and bastardised, they cannot attain their God-given destinies. We talk about how the cemetery is the richest place because many destinies are buried there. But it happens every day, some people are living, but are like walking corpses because they cannot function anymore as a result of one abuse or the other,” she said.

In his remarks, a board member of the Attorney General Alliance (AGA) Africa, Mr. Markus Greene, stressed the far-reaching consequences of gender-based violence and emphasised the need to raise boys with values that prevent them from becoming perpetrators.

According to him, GBV is a very serious issue. “It’s worldwide. And I’m so happy to see so many men in the audience. GBV is perpetrated mostly by men. We have the power to change it,” he said.

Markus said the primary function of AGA-Africa is to provide a forum for legal officers to cultivate knowledge, cooperate on issues of legal concerns, coordinate actions, which improve the level of legal services available to different institutions, promote the rule of law and international cooperation.

He listed other functions of the body to include, training of prosecutors in investigation and prosecution of transnational crimes and essential trial techniques; training programmes and organising workshops for stakeholders on transnational crime; creating awareness seminars and other events to draw attention to the dangers of transnational crime.

Others are to improve skills on oral advocacy and advanced trial advocacy, legislative drafting; capacity building to strengthen forensic evidence gathering and preservation; law enforcement and prosecution best practices.

In a goodwill message, Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Benin branch, Nosa Edo-Osagie, appreciated the organisers for the workshop which he described as apt.

He said GBV is a global problem that needs every hand on deck to stem the tide.
Earlier in his address, the Attorney General of Edo State, Oluwole Uzzi, underscored the alarming prevalence of GBV in the society and urged all stakeholders, including investigators, prosecutors, judges, and support staff, to come together and address the issue collectively.

He said: “You can hardly open the newspapers or go online today without seeing one form of GBV. It has risen to intolerable levels. So, that is why we said, let us discuss with those who are in the forefront, those who are first responders and check it and eradicate it.”