Ipas, in collaboration with multiple stakeholders, worked to ensure that the rights of women and girls are protected, particularly the young and marginalized. This was achieved by instilling survivor centered approaches to responding to cases of sexual violence under the Violence Persons Prohibition law in the States.
The training provided by Ipas to the police personnel at different stages have been of help to the Nigeria police force in Borno State. This has influenced our investigation capabilities and then the turnout of cases.
Before now, the Police knew little of issues like domestic violence and the issue of rape, socio economic violence that are perpetrated outside or in the community. If people report cases like that, the police treat it as a common family issue or domestic issue. That should be sorted out by the people involved in it.
But with that training by Ipas, that has brought to book the nitty gritty, under the provisions of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law of Borno State. It has now become known to the police that those things should not be treated as common. Cases of violence are no more treated as little misunderstandings because they are offenses within the scope of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition law.
Ipas training has really influenced my role because as at now I find it easier to handle such cases when whenever they come before me and whenever I see a survivor, I know how to handle them too.