The Ogun State Police Command has trained its officers on survivor-centred responses to gender-based violence (GBV) and post-violence care as part of efforts to improve the handling of sexual assault, domestic violence and other related cases.

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.

The training focused on equipping officers with the knowledge and practical skills required to protect survivors’ rights, preserve evidence, ensure confidentiality, and facilitate access to medical, psychological, and legal support.

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

She said the training would also improve officers’ understanding of safe referral procedures and post-violence care while enabling them to carry out their statutory responsibilities, including investigations.

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

It was also centered on practical responses and post-violence care, including medical treatment, psychological support, legal assistance, and safety planning.

Participants were also briefed on relevant laws and prosecutorial requirements, with emphasis on the importance of police investigations in determining the strength of cases brought before the courts.

The officers received guidance on responding to incidents at crime scenes and police stations, with particular attention to survivors’ safety, privacy, dignity, and freedom from discrimination.

Facilitators also stressed the need for appropriate communication and interviewing techniques to prevent survivors from experiencing further trauma during investigations.

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

Participants were reminded of the importance of prompt medical assessment following sexual violence, including the administration of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) within 72 hours, where indicated to reduce the risk of HIV infection.

The training also addressed appropriate responses to cases involving children, intimate-partner violence, domestic violence, sexual assault and exploitation, as well as safeguarding measures for vulnerable survivors.

Officers reviewed provisions of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act 2015, particularly Section 1, alongside discussions on the responsibilities of police gender units, Family Support Units, SARCs, and social welfare agencies.

Practical exercises allowed participants to practice responding to survivor disclosures, assessing risks, documenting cases, and making referrals. Discussions also examined gaps in current response mechanisms, professional conduct, accountability, and measures to address secondary trauma among officers.

The Ogun State Police Command, under the leadership of Commissioner of Police Bode Ojajuni, said it remained committed to continuous training and retraining to improve professionalism and align policing practices with modern standards.

The command’s Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, disclosed that the command reaffirmed its commitment to protecting survivors and strengthening service delivery across the state

The command said sustained capacity building was essential to ensuring that officers handled GBV cases effectively while upholding the rights and dignity of survivors.