Ebonyi stakeholders renew commitment, brainstorm on sustaining fight against SGBV

The GBV taskforce with some major stakeholders in the fight against sexual and gender-based violence in Ebonyi state have brainstormed on ways of sustaining the Programme away from International Partner’s support.

 

The brainstorming session was a major component of the 2024 first quarter GBV Coordination meeting held Tuesday in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital.

 

The event was organised by the Taskforce in collaboration with the State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, with support from the USAID-Integrated Health Program, IHP.

 

The stakeholders at the meeting further strengthened their collective commitment to continue advancing the fight in spite of the imminent close out of a major partner’s project in the state

 

Recall that USAID-IHP which would be closing out its project soon in the state has remained a major partner and supporter of GBV taskforce activities in the state.

 

Participants at the meeting including partner Civil society organisations, representatives of concerned government Ministries, Departments and Agencies; security agencies, NAPTIP and the media, among others, deliberated extensively on ways of sustaining and building upon the successes so far recorded in the fight.

 

Part of the strategies resolved at the meeting was to adopt a more robust, multi-sectorial approach to the fight, comprising increased advocacy to secure the interest of more relevant government ministries and department as well as individual economic influencers to support the fight.

 

There was also the strategy of increased GBV surveillance, synergy with the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Community leaders for increased documentation and reporting of sexual and gender-based violence cases from primary health facilities and other primary sources across the state, among others.

 

Stakeholders further tasked the State Ministry of Justice to as a matter of urgency, make handy to the public the complete, amended and domesticated Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) law to both enhance public knowledge and facilitate the job of prosecution of GBV perpetrators.

 

Expressing his commitment, the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Ben Odoh, stressed that the present administration in the state was committed to reducing GBV incidence to marginal level in the state.

 

Odoh, represented by a staff of the Ministry, Barr. Uchenna Onu, stated that the creation of the sexual assault and gender-based violence department by the Commissioner on assumption of office was part of the strategies to sustain the fight.

 

Others who spoke, including the Gender Desk Officer of the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Florence Onwa, while appreciating the GBV task force assured that the Ministry which has birthed the taskforce will not relent in supporting its activities.

 

Onwa emphasized that the safe space established in the Ministry with support from Momentum County Global Leadership was 95% ready for temporary accommodation of GBV survivors, assuring that adequate arrangements are underway to provide all that was needed for full take-off of the place.

 

Summing the submissions, the Director of Planning in the State Ministry of Budget and planning, Chijioke Ogbodo, assured that all inputs emanating from line ministries concerning GBV activities would always receive due attention in the state budget formation.

 

The Coordinator, Ebonyi State GBV Taskforce, Barr. Faithvin Nwanchor, her deputy, Rev. Mrs. Flora Egwu and the PRO, Goodness Mgbaja in separate presentations identified some of the achievements of the taskforce to include enhanced response to GBV cases, survivor rescue and referrals; increased mediation services and alternative dispute resolution approaches to GBV cases, enhanced Community and social group outreaches, among others.

 

Mgbaja added: “About 20,000 women and girls were covered in the taskforce’s recent GBV screening exercise in the state out of which over 5,000 cases needing action were responded to.

 

“We have recorded tremendous increase in reported cases of GBV in the state.

 

“Today, the state GBV Taskforce has gained over 50 member Organizations in the state, and other states like Delta, Osun and Abia have adopted our model.”

 

Egwu however, decried delay in execution of identified GBV cases, late reporting of cases, poor survivors’ attitude towards prosecution of perpetrators, lack of operational vehicle and paucity of fund as some of challenges faced by the taskforce.

 

Mgbaja had in an earlier remark explained that the objective of the meeting was to present report on GBV taskforce activities, achievements and challenges as well as discuss and develop Sustainability plan for priority activities supported by USAID-IHP.

 

Goodwill messages were received from partner ministries and agencies, the USAID-IHP and other partners: WHO, NAPTIP, the Police and other security agencies and the National Obstetric Fistula Centre, Abakaliki, among others.