The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), in collaboration with the Oyo State Government and other stakeholders, has strengthened efforts to combat school-related sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), with the formal adoption of a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) designed to improve the reporting, investigation and prosecution of perpetrators.
The framework is expected to provide clear guidelines for preventing school-related SGBV, reporting incidents, referring cases to appropriate institutions and ensuring coordinated, survivor-centred responses, particularly in cases involving children.
The initiative is being implemented under the European Union-supported Support to End Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in Nigeria (ESGBV) Programme, with International IDEA serving as the implementing organisation.
The Stakeholder Validation Workshop on the Draft Oyo State SOP for the Prosecution of Perpetrators of School-Related Gender-Based Violence was held on Wednesday in Ibadan, the state capital.
The workshop had in attendance representatives of government ministries, departments and agencies, justice and law enforcement institutions, social workers, the media and other child protection stakeholders to review and validate the proposed framework.
The exercise followed three Technical Working Group meetings during which the draft SOP was developed and refined to address prevention, institutional responsibilities, survivor- and child-centred case management, referral procedures, prosecution, accountability, documentation and data protection.
Participants reviewed the document’s five substantive sections and accompanying annexes through working-group sessions and plenary discussions, identifying gaps and proposing amendments to ensure that the final framework reflected existing institutional mandates, applicable laws and the practical realities of addressing school-related SGBV in the state.
Speaking at the event, Melissa Omene, GBV Policy and Strategy Development, ESGBV Programme, International IDEA, said the initiative formed part of broader efforts to strengthen the legal, policy and institutional frameworks for preventing and responding to violence against women, girls and other vulnerable groups.
Omene explained that International IDEA had partnered with the Oyo State Ministries of Justice, Education, and Women Affairs and Social Development to develop the proposed SOP.
She stressed that schools should be safe environments where children could learn, grow and realise their full potential, noting that various forms of violence continued to threaten learners within and around educational institutions.
According to her, such violations included sexual harassment, sexual abuse, exploitation, bullying, harmful disciplinary practices and online abuse.
Citing available evidence, Omene said an estimated 44 per cent of female students and 35 per cent of male students in Nigeria had experienced physical or sexual violence perpetrated by teachers or classmates, adding that one in four girls in the country experienced sexual violence before the age of 18.
The ESGBV programme official warned that school-related violence could undermine children’s rights and wellbeing, disrupt school attendance and academic performance, and limit their future opportunities.
She noted that children who experienced violence were more likely to be out of school or drop out, while sexual violence had been associated with poorer mental health outcomes and an increased risk of early marriage.
Omene said the SOP was designed to establish clear procedures for identifying, reporting, referring and managing school-related SGBV cases while ensuring that affected children received timely, appropriate and survivor-centred support.
She explained that the document would guide education authorities, school administrators, teachers, counsellors, social welfare officers, law enforcement agencies, healthcare providers and other relevant institutions in responding to reported incidents.
According to her, the framework would also strengthen the prosecution of perpetrators through improved coordination among the institutions responsible for handling such cases.
She described the process as a government-led, multi-stakeholder initiative, noting that a Technical Working Group comprising relevant institutions had been established under the leadership of the state ministries of Justice, Education, and Women Affairs and Social Development.
The group, she said, drew on federal frameworks, international good practices and the peculiar realities of Oyo State to develop practical guidelines for addressing school-related SGBV.
Omene added that the validation workshop provided an opportunity for stakeholders to identify gaps, make recommendations and ensure that the final document was technically sound and suitable for implementation.
She commended members of the Technical Working Group for their contributions during intensive three-day technical drafting sessions and acknowledged the roles played by Aikomo, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, and the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Alhaja Sanni Foasat Ajoke.
She also appreciated the European Union for its continued financial support and partnership in strengthening responses to sexual and gender-based violence across Nigeria.
Earlier, the Head of the SGBV Response Unit, Federal Ministry of Justice, Yewande Gbola-Awopetu, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to tackling gender-based violence and strengthening the protection of children and other vulnerable persons.
Gbola-Awopetu said the Federal Ministry of Justice would continue to support the implementation of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (VAPP), the Child Rights Act and other relevant legislation aimed at preventing violence and ensuring justice for survivors.
She added that the ministry would collaborate with state governments to promote the domestication of relevant laws and coordinate the implementation of the SOP on school-related SGBV.
According to her, effective collaboration between federal and state institutions was necessary to strengthen legal protection, improve responses to reported cases and ensure that perpetrators were held accountable in accordance with the law.
In his keynote address, the Oyo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Abiodun Aikomo, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to the initiative, declaring that the SOP was an intervention the state was determined to sustain.
Aikomo, who was represented by the ministry’s SGBV Coordinator, Barrister Kashifa Oloso-Olayinwola, pledged that the Ministry of Justice would work towards ensuring the effective implementation of the framework.
He commended International IDEA, the European Union, civil society organisations and members of the technical teams for their contributions to developing the document.
The Attorney-General said school-related SGBV remained a serious concern because of its implications for children’s safety, dignity, educational development and fundamental rights.
He stressed that addressing the menace required more than the existence of laws and policies, noting that effective implementation, clearly defined institutional responsibilities, timely reporting, appropriate investigation and competent prosecution were equally important.
According to him, the SOP would provide a common operational reference for institutions responsible for receiving complaints, making referrals, investigating allegations, providing legal advice, prosecuting offenders and supporting affected learners throughout the justice process.
He said the framework would also promote consistency in case management, improve inter-agency coordination, reduce avoidable delays and establish a clearer pathway from the reporting of incidents to appropriate legal action.
Aikomo, however, cautioned that the success of the document would depend on its practical applicability, institutional acceptance and consistent implementation.
He urged stakeholders to pay particular attention to the clarity of institutional mandates, timely referrals, preservation and handling of evidence, protection of confidential information and measures to prevent the retraumatisation of children during investigations and prosecutions.
He further emphasised that the procedures must comply with existing laws and policies on child protection, criminal justice administration, education and sexual and gender-based violence.
“The best interests of the child must remain a primary consideration in decisions affecting child survivors,” he said, stressing the need to protect their privacy, dignity, safety and right to sensitive treatment without compromising the integrity of investigations or the requirements of a fair trial.
The Attorney-General also called for clear reporting and referral pathways, effective coordination between education authorities and law enforcement and justice institutions, appropriate procedures for cases involving children, and mechanisms for monitoring compliance with the SOP.
He said the state government and relevant stakeholders would need to provide orientation and training for personnel, ensure that institutions understood their responsibilities and periodically review implementation to address emerging challenges.
Reaffirming the Ministry of Justice’s commitment to strengthening access to justice and promoting accountability, he noted that protecting learners from school-related gender-based violence was a shared responsibility involving government institutions, school authorities, parents, communities, civil society organisations and development partners.
In a separate address delivered on behalf of the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, the ministry’s representative commended International IDEA, the European Union and other stakeholders for their contributions to developing the framework.
The representative said the SOP would provide a coordinated approach to preventing, reporting and responding to school-related gender-based violence, urging relevant institutions to support its effective implementation.
The representative also called on participants to ensure that the document was practical, comprehensive and responsive to the realities of schools across the state.
The validation process culminated in the formal endorsement and adoption of the SOP by the Oyo State Ministry of Justice, providing a common reference framework for institutions involved in preventing and responding to school-related SGBV.
The adoption is expected to strengthen coordination among institutions responsible for child protection, education, law enforcement and the administration of justice.
However, stakeholders noted that the success of the initiative would ultimately depend on adequate training of relevant personnel, sustained inter-agency collaboration, institutional compliance and consistent implementation to ensure that allegations were appropriately handled and perpetrators prosecuted in accordance with the law.
