Officers of the Ogun State Police Command have undergone a two-day capacity building training on Post-Violence Care and Gender-Based Violence, GBV, aimed at improving survivor-centred response and investigation.
The training was organised by the Ogun State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in collaboration with the APIN Public Health Initiative.
The Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi B. Babaseyi, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.
Declaring the training open, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs Adebimpe Folusho Obienu, said the workshop was aimed at strengthening officers’ knowledge and practical skills in survivor-centred, rights-based and coordinated responses to GBV, including safe referrals and post-violence care.
According to the statement, the first day of the training addressed myths and facts about GBV, its various forms, drivers, risk factors and societal impact.
Technical sessions highlighted relevant laws and expectations of prosecutors during police investigations, emphasising that the police serve as the foundation of every case.
Officers were trained on first-response procedures at scenes and police stations to ensure survivor safety, privacy, dignity and non-discrimination, as well as survivor-centred communication to avoid re-traumatisation.
Other areas covered included proper interviewing techniques, obtaining informed consent, maintaining confidentiality, evidence preservation and establishing referral pathways with Sexual Assault Referral Centres, SARCs, and healthcare facilities across the state.
The second day focused on post-violence care pathways, including medical care, psychological support, legal assistance and safety planning, with emphasis on time-sensitive care following sexual violence, including urgent clinical assessment and administration of Post-Exposure Prophylaxis, PEP, within 72 hours where indicated.
Officers were also guided on responding to child survivors, intimate-partner violence, domestic violence, sexual assault and exploitation, as well as safeguarding protocols for persons at heightened risk.
The VAPP Law 2015, particularly Section One, was also reviewed, while inter-agency coordination and roles of Police Gender Units, Family Support Units, FSUs, SARCs and social welfare agencies were highlighted.
The sessions featured interactive exercises on survivor disclosure, risk assessment, documentation and referral role-plays, as well as discussions on professional conduct, officer accountability and strategies for managing secondary trauma.
Babaseyi stated that the Command under the State Commissioner of Police, CP Bode Ojajuni, remains committed to continuous training to enhance professionalism and ensure effective protection and service delivery for survivors across the state.
