EBONYI
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and other partners have advocated for proper budgetary and comprehensive policy implementation to enhance Gender Based Violence (GBV) responses in the state.
They made the remark, on Saturday in Abakaliki, during a town hall meeting and symposium to mark the 2022 16-days of Activism in Ebonyi.
The 2022 16-days of Activism against GBV was in collaboration with USAID Momentum Country and Global Leadership (MCGL), the state Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.
Mrs Nneka Chijioke-Dikeocha, the State Team Leader of MCGL, said the call for practical steps on policy and budget implementation was to properly prevent GBV and other related violence against women and girls in the society.
Chijioke-Dikeocha commended USAID on the projects so far awarded to MCGL in handling the menace of GBV in Ebonyi and Sokoto.
“The 2022 theme,” Unite; Activism to End Violence Against Women and Girls” is a call to action for all GBV actors to unite, fight and end violence against these persons,” Chijioke-Dikeocha said.
Mrs Ugo Nnachi, Executive Director, Daughters of Virtues and Empowerment Initiative, (DOVENET) in the state, encouraged the state government to domesticate existing policies and ensure it implementation.
Nnachi also urged the government to make contents of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law, available to relevant stakeholders.
The Director called for the need to strengthen capacity of departments and data officers in the ministry.
“There should be continuous and renewable teamwork among the stakeholders in the state. Retraining of staff and other volunteers on use of modern gadgets, need to be encouraged,”Nnachi explained.
Ejiro Okotie, the State2State Gender and Social Inclusion Specialist also called for all-inclusive intervention to make deep impact in the fight against GBV.
Okotie maintained that sustained synergy in the fight against with government and state actors strengthen, sensitisation campaigns.
Mrs Goodness Mgbaja, the State Programme Officer, Civil Resource Development and Documentation Centre suggested for a review of existing policies to enhance GBV response in the state.
Mgbaja also Public Relations Officer of GBV Taskforce in the state, commended the progress so far achieved toward ending GBV in the state.
Mrs Charity Odio, the Advocacy and Capacity Strengthening Officers of Breakthrough Action Nigeria in the state, also stated the need for stakeholders to deepen awareness on the VAPP Law across communities.
Mrs Deborah Okah, the Commissioner in the ministry, while appreciating the donor agency, MCGL for their supports to Ebonyi, call for more collective team work to achieve set goals.
Okah commended Governor David Umahi and Wife Mrs Rachael Umahi for supports to carryout activities towards changing narrative of the state and facilitate the amendment of five sections of the VAPP law.
The Agency reports that the event featured a panel discussion on uniting the role of stakeholders in responding to violence against women in the state.
The agency also reports that the symposium attracted GBV state actors, various departments in the ministry of women affairs and the media.