GBV: Uromi JDPCI Takes 19 to Court

By Lucky Isibor 

The Justice Development and Peace Caritas Initiative (JDPCI) of the Uromi Catholic Diocese has facilitated the prosecution of 19 cases of Gender Based Violence (GBV) in various Courts in Edo Central Senatorial District of Edo State in the last six months. The faith based organisation has also assisted a rape incident survivor to access justice in Court and convicted the perpetrator.

Rev. Fr. Fidelis Arhedo,  Executive Director, Uromi JDPCI (C) making his remarks at the event. 

The Executive  Director of Uromi JDPCI, the Very Rev. Fr. (Dr.) Fidelis Arhedo stated this Friday, 9th December during the commemoration of the 2022 Human Right Day which also marked the climax of the 16 days of activism against Gender Based Violence which commenced on the 25th of November with the theme "Unite! Activism to End Violence Against Women and Girls". The clergy man added that Uromi JDPCI has also established community human rights clubs in 30 communities and 25 Adult Human Rights Clubs in 25 Schools across the five Local government areas of Edo Central Senatorial District. 

"Uromi JDPCI has successfully assisted a survivor of rape incident to access justice and win a case in court and currently we are assisting 19 survivors of rape incidence in accessing justice in court. There are a plethora of conflicts successfully resolved through Alternative Dispute Resolutions by Uromi JDPCI and the various community human right advocates. 

"Uromi JDPCI as a key stakeholder in the promotion of human rights with special focus on women and girls has since, joined the rest of the world in the commemoration of this year's activism with sensitization session held on the 25th of November, 2022. This is because Uromi JDPCI believes that when the rights of all are respected, without segregation, discrimination or any form of biases, growth, development and peaceful coexistence of the village community will be achieved ".

                           A cross section of participants at the event 

Delivering a paper titled, "Promoting Unity Among Key Actors in Response to Sexual and Gender Based Violence, it's Case Management. (Roles and Duties of Law Enforcement Agents)"; the  Police Area Commander of Uromi Area Command, Assistant Commissioner of Police; ACP Tarzan Tsav enumerated the factors promoting Gender Based Violence to include legal, economic, political, and cultural.

ACP Tsav who was represented by Superintendent of Police, SP Stephen Akwaha, the Divisional Police Officer, DPO of Ugboha Division noted that " being a victim of gender based violence is perceived in many society as shameful and weak with many women still being considered guilty of attracting violence against themselves through their behaviours. Lack of economic resources in particular make women vulnerable to violence, it creates patterns of violence and poverty that become self perpetrating making it difficult for the victims to extricate themselves".

Dueling on the issue further, the Area Commander said, "Patriarchial and sexiest view legitimalizes violence to ensure the dominance of men. Other cultural factors includes gender stereotypes and prejudice, normative expectation of femininity and masculinity. The under representation of women in power and politics means that, they have fewer opportunities to shape the discussion and to effect the changes in policy".

While calling for collaboration between policy makers, security agencies, traditional rulers and the judiciary,  ACP Tsav urged the traditional rulers to abolish traditions and cultural practices that promote sexual and gender based violence and appealed to the judiciary to give adequate attention to cases of Sexual and Gender Based Violence brought before it.

In a remark, Chief Hillary Ekhoye, who represented the Onojie of Igueben, Zaiki Eluojierior 11, noted that women also perpetrate violence against men, particularly in the economic and home front where some men are denied meals by their spouses.

Chief Ekhoye appealed to community leaders to assist in the implementation of prosecution of parents of out of school children, stating that Igueben has set up a task force to enforce the directive and called on other communities in Esan land to do the same.

Representatives of thirty communities, various churches,  security agencies, three of the Local Government Councils in Edo Central Senatorial District and members of Civil Society Organisations were present at the event.