By Ruth Oginyi
Ebonyi State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Bar. Ben Odoh, said the government of Hon. Francis Nwifuru was committed to tackling all forms of gender based violence GBV and other harmful practices against humanity in the state.
Odoh spoke in Abakaliki during a Quarterly Coordination/ Dissemination meeting organized by the Ebonyi State GBV Taskforce in Collaboration with Ministry of Women Affairs and Ministry of Justice with support from IHP-USAID.
Represented by Barr. Emmanuel Uchenna Onu, Odoh explained that on assumption of office he created sexual assault and gender-based violence department in the ministry to tackle the mance.
He said, Gbv is an evil wind and the state government is committed in tackling the evil wind that was why on assumption of office the commissioner created gbv department to oversee such issues and head the vaap law review.
Dr Sabinus Nwibo SA to the state governor on primary health said Ebonyi State government have taken gbv as a priority area to fight through the pet project of the wife of the governor BEWOA.
Dr Nwibo stressed that government is determined to end gbv that is why there is collaboration between the gbv taskforce team and relevant ministries.
On her part Dr. Nkiruka Uche Nwidagu who represented the MD of national obstetric fistula center Abakaliki prof Johnson Obunna said gbv is not just the physical health issues but also mental health challenges and that about 522 cases of gbv have been recorded in the hospital within the year under review.
She said as part of the contribution to end gbv, NOFIC offers free medical services to survivors that reports to the hospital.
The Gender Desk Officer of the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Florence Onwa, commended the GBV task force and pledged that the Ministry which has birthed the taskforce will not relent in supporting its activities.
Onwa explained 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.
Chijioke Ogbodo the Director of Planning in the State Ministry of Budget and planning, , assured that all inputs coming from line ministries concerning GBV activities would always receive due attention in the state budget formation.
Earlier in their submissions, the state Coordinator Ebonyi State GBV Taskforce, Barr. Faithvin Nwanchor, her deputy, Rev. Mrs. Flora Egwu and the taskforce PRO, Goodness Mgbaja 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.
According to Mgbaja: “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.”
She appealed for mobility assistance from the wife of the governor to enable them go into the hinterlands.
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.//
Other stakeholders at the meeting made inputs on how to strengthened their collective efforts to continue advancing the fight.
The stakeholders emphasised on multi-sectorial approach to the fight, including more advocacy to secure the interest of more relevant government ministries and department as well as individual economic influencers to support the campaign against gbv.
