Stakeholders seek scriptural approach to ending SGBV in Ebonyi

Religious leaders in Nigeria have been urged to employ scriptural interpretations in challenging patriarchal stereotypes which have tended to favour gender inequality, sexual and gender based violence.

 

The charge was part of issues raised at a one day Dissemination meeting of the Ebonyi State Action Plan for Prevention and Response to Sexual Assault and Violence Against Women and Girls.

 

The meeting was organized by the State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in partnership with Women International League for Peace and Freedom Nigeria, and the Coalition for the Promotion of Women’s Rights.

 

It was held Wednesday, October 23, in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital.

 

In a presentation titled “Roles of Religious Leaders, Traditional Rulers and Research Specialists in State Action Plan Implementation”, the WILPF Nigeria National Project Officer, Mrs. Stella Okechukwu-Kalu, observed that religious leaders are well advantaged to use their moral authority to condemn all manifestations of violence against women and girls.

 

She emphasized that they can utilize scriptural interpretations as a tool against gender inequality which breeds violence especially against women and girls in most quarters.

 

Kalu further noted that religious and traditional rulers are major community influencers and urged them to be committed in education, awareness creation and support service against SGBV/VAWG in their various domains.

 

Presenting a synopsis of the State VAWG Action plan, a health expert, Mrs Chinwe Osuji, said the plan was aimed at supporting the state’s efforts to ending violence against women and girls, aligning with the vision of Governor, Francis Nwifuru and his wife, Mary-Maudline.

 

She noted that the recent research update by the organisation in April 2023 captured the existence of diverse forms of violence in some parts of the state, including domestic violence, child/forced marriage, male child preference, female genital mutilation, rape and sexual abuse.

 

It also identified emotional violence including verbal abuse, deprivation and spousal abandonment as well as other harmful practices such as wife inheritance, widowhood practices, ghost marriage and dumping of a pregnant deceased woman in the evil forest.

 

Recommendations focused on promoting rights to justice, security and social services for survivors through accountability, state ownership and multi-sectoral approach to prevention, response and policy implementation.

 

Participants identified certain existing cultural traditions and norms favouring gender discrimination and denial, poor sector funding, inadequate manpower, compromise by law enforcement agencies, delay in prosecution of perpetrators, political interference in SGBV/VAWG cases and intimidation of survivors and their families, among others as factors inhibiting success in the fight against the menace.

 

They endorsed recommendations for qualitative staffing of Ebonyi state Sexual Assault Response Centre and One-Stop centre for GBV, adequate funding and equipment of the State GBV shelter in the Ministry of Women Affairs, establishment of more functional family courts or stand-alone GBV courts to end delays in case trials and decentralization of functional case management teams to different local government areas in the state as some of the approaches to achieving greater results.

 

Participants at the event were drawn from relevant federal and state government ministries, departments and agencies including the National Orientation Agency and NAPTIP; State Ministries of Women Affairs, Health, Justice and Education; law enforcement agencies, traditional institutions, religious bodies and Civil Society Organizations in the state, including the Ebonyi State Network of Civil Society Organizations and the State Task Force Against Gender based violence.