CEWHIN Launches Standard Operating Procedure on GBV and Harmful Practices For PWDs In Osun
By Titilola Olaniyan,
Centre for Women’s Health and Information CEWHIN has launched Standard Operating Procedure, (SOP) on Gender Based Violence (GBV) and Harmful Practices (HP) Integrated Service Provision and Strengthened Referral Pathways For Persons With Disabilities in Osun State.
The SOP document which is a multi-sectoral survivor-centered guideline for responding to Gender-Based Violence and related matters was achieved through the participation, contribution, cooperation and collaboration of critical actors from relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies, law enforcement agencies, Joint Association of Persons With Disabilities, NGOs, Community Based Organisations, Faith-based organisations and civil society organisations on disability, GBV and harassment issues.
In her remarks at the launch on Tuesday in Osogbo, Atinuke Odukoya, CEWHIN Executive Director, said the SOP outlines clear procedures for assessing, investigating, prosecuting and responding to GBV, harmful practices and related issues, adding that the survivor-centered guide marks a significant step in ensuring inclusivity, acceptability, equal opportunities for persons with disabilities and ensuring that women and girls with disabilities live with dignity and respect in Osun societies.
She urged all concerned stakeholders to study the book judiciously and ensure the effective implementation of its contents in order to quicken efforts at preventing and eradicating SGBV among other menaces affecting PWDs, especially women and girls who are survivors of these abuses.
“My message is that people should not keep the book on their shelves and in their offices but that they should make use of the contents of the SOP. What the SOP is trying to do is to help people to understand how they treat women and girls with disabilities that are survivors of sexual or gender based violence within the Osun State community.
“What SOP has done is not only to give information as to where they can go to, who they can go to or talk to, it also puts in the kind of language to use or not to use, plus what should be done. It is a multi-sectoral approach, different people engaging in different areas. We have the physical health, we have the mental health, we have the empowerment and all sorts of helps that the people require, trying to put in place where to go, when to go, people to refer to, when there is any need for referral and how to support a woman or girl who has been involved in gender based violence and it can be used by different people; education, health, social welfare, justice, different sectors that respond to issues of Sexual and Gender-Bases Violence.”
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Osun State Bureau for People with Disabilities, Ayobami Oyetunde, affirmed that the SOP has already assigned roles to all concerned, urging every stakeholder to seriously and promptly implement the guidelines.
Funmilayo Abdullahi, in her role as the SOP research assistant and CEWHIN associate, stated that the multi-sectoral guide was drafted together with all relevant communities and authorities, adding that “All stakeholders were invited to the validation and we expect all stakeholders to go back to their respective organisations and step down the contents of the SOP.”
The Osun State Chairman of JONAPWD Stephen Oluwafemi at the launch commended CEWHIN and other implementing partners for the SOP, saying, “We believe that if these standard operating procedures are effectively followed, it will eradicate ugly attitude of people towards persons with disabilities and there will be better life for our members.”
Similarly the Senior Social Welfare Officer at the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare, Mrs Aderibigbe who represented the Commissioner, Hon Ayo Awolowo, said the development and launching of the SOP is long-overdue, assuring that the ministry would improve on its efforts in accordance with the document.
The Standard Operation Procedure, SOP which was funded by the United Nations Trust Fund to end violence against women and girls, was developed to address the menace of abuse and violence against PWDs in Osun state.
At the launch of the document, all relevant stakeholders such as Religious leaders, Security Agencies, Judiciary, Ministry of Women Affairs, Children and Social Welfare, Media among others were present.