September 2020
THE VIVIAN CENTRE
As part of efforts to curb rising incidences of sexual assault and improve access to justice for survivors, the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) Programme supported the Edo state government to establish its first Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC). The Vivian Centre was launched by the Governor of Edo state on 16 September 2020. It is designed to provide survivors with services such as medical treatment, counselling and follow-up support, as well as support to engage with the justice system at no cost to the survivor.
The launch of the Edo SARC brings the total number of SARCs in Nigeria to 25. As at June 2020, 13,075 survivors have accessed SARC services since the first SARC was established in Lagos state in 2013.
SEXUAL OFFENDER AND SERVICE PROVIDERS REGISTERS
At the same time, the Edo state Sexual Offender and Service Providers Registers were also established. The SOR is a register of reported, tried, or convicted cases of sexual violations or abuses in the state. The register is linked to the National Sexual Offender Register, which is managed by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons.
The Service Providers Register is a collation of governmental, non-governmental, faith-based, voluntary and charitable associations/ institutions that provide services such as shelter, counselling, legal, financial, vocational, educational, psychosocial, medical, or other assistance to victims and survivors of all forms of domestic and sex-related violence, as captured in the Edo state Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law.
