Edo First Lady pledges sexual assault referral centre

Wife of Edo State Governor and Chairperson of the state Gender-Based Violence Management Committee, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki, has assured that cases of victims of sexual assault and violence will be pursued through a referral centre to be set up in the state.

Speaking in Benin City at the resumed hearing of the case of 55-year old Michael Ogboke, who is standing trial for allegedly defiling a seven-year-old girl, she pledged support for victims of gender-based violence and urged victims to speak up and bring their cases to the government’s attention.
 

“Today’s case has been adjourned till August 10, 2021, and I will come here again until we see the end of this case. We will keep following every case to serve as a deterrent to others, ” she stated as long as we get to know about them and so we enjoin people not to allow anyone to intimidate them,” she stated.

Obaseki noted that the state government was working towards setting up a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) in the 18 councils of the state to cater for cases of sexual assault.

She urged the victims to forward their complaints at the Ministry of Social Development and Gender and offices of the governor and deputy governor, or to the office of the First Lady where their complaints would receive prompt attention.

The Edo first lady assured that the law would take its full course on perpetrators, no matter their status, while victims will be rehabilitated.