Partner Close Out: Taskforce, Stakeholders Brainstorm on Sustaining Fight Against GBV in Ebonyi.

The Ebonyi state GBV taskforce and some Stakeholders in the fight against sexual and gender-based violence in the state have avowed determination to continue advancing the fight in spite of the imminent close out of a major partner’s project in the state.
The commitment was a major outcome 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.

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, brainstormed 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.