Stakeholders Brainstorm to End Gender-based Violence in Benue
By Prosper Okoye
In line with the ongoing United Nations 16 Days activism against Gender Based Violence (GBV), which ends today, 10th December, 2021, Benue state civil society groups have joined their global counterparts to condemn the avalanche of gender abuses in the state; calling on victims to avail themselves to immediate free Medical and psychological treatment support, provided by stakeholder donors.
“To accomplish our 95:95:95 gender-based violence goals in the state, CSOs must come together to share experiences that enhance best practices in GBV responses, review GBV data collection tools, understand inhibitions to use Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) in sexual violence related cases, and promote effective referral pathways for seamless GBV case management process,” says AIDS Prevention Initiative Nigeria (APIN) state gender based violence focal person, Bettrice Ogbaegba, on 9th December, during an inter agency peer to peer interaction session held at Hallidays Hotel Makurdi.
Enumerating the socio-cultural challenges, promoting female child sexual violations, Benue State Agency for the Control of AIDS (BENSACA) Ag. DAF, Winifred Dooshima said fear of stigmatization, coupled with the patriarchal nature of Benue society puts the female sex at a disadvantaged position; women cannot wield economic, education and political powers, hence most women cannot speak up against their violators, who, in most cases, are close relatives, that supports their daily survival needs.
She further decried the ineptitude of the Ministry of Women Affairs which is saddled with the responsibility of protecting the Rights of these vulnerable women.
Eunice Spring of Life Foundation Programs Manager, Tine Agernor, however stated that the first lady, Eunice Ortom, through the organization, is making provisions for the protection of these vulnerable women.
A member of HeForShe advocate , Joseph Gbagyo enjoined the CSOs to synergize with government agencies responsible for gender Violence protection, as “this will provide the institutional and legal framework needed to end gender-based violence.”
Ameh Fred, representing the Benue State command PPRO, DSP Sewuese Anene, ensured the CSOs of the police continuous support to end violence against women. Officer in Charge of gender-based crimes, Ann Ameh also said that the CSOs can reach her on 08O63493609 for quick police intervention.
