… As stakeholders raise alarm over herders attacks on women, call for database on gender-based violence
The Rivers State government has been urged to launch local government ‘Sexual and Gender-Based Violence’ (SGBV) response centres in the 23 local council areas of the state.
In doing so, stakeholders that met on SGBV in the state in Port Harcourt urged the state government to begin with Onelga (Ogba, Egbema, Ndoni LGA), Eleme, and Etche LGAs where they said an uprising activist group, the Health Life Development Initiative (HELDi) is said to have already set up such centres.
This is as stakeholders on gender-based violence reported increasing incidence of attacks by herders in most communities in the northern parts of Rivers State especially Eleme, Etche, Omuma, and Iriebe.
The calls were contained in resolutions issued at the conclusion of the multi-stakeholders’ forum initiated by HELDI to strengthen ‘Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Response Systems’ and Local Government Areas Synergy in Rivers State, held at the Small Conference Hall of the Rivers State Primary Healthcare Board in the state capital.
In attendance were representatives of Ministries of Education, Health, Justice, Social Welfare, Water Resources, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), National Orientation Agency (NOA), Police, Civil Defence Corps, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the Muslim Community, some paramilitary services, Rivers State SGBV Response Team, Community leaders, the media, and selected members of the public.
It was resolved that all hands must work in concert to address SGBV in the State, and that there must be a comprehensive record of all organizations working on SGBV in Rivers State.
Read also: HELDi storms Omoku zone with war against sexual and gender-based violence
It was resolved that the Rivers State Government should be the number one driver of the campaign and should give priority attention to response issues to save the weak (women and children) in the society.
It was resolved that a reporting format for data collation must be developed and adopted, while the format being used in the three local council focal points established by HELDI was recommended as template for the state.
It was observed that gender sensitivity matters must begin at home and parents were thus urged to begin the required social norm change by teaching boys and girls equally in role assignments and respect for girls; and that this should be continued in schools.
“The society should step up on the engagement of men and boys in programmes on gender-based violence; and capacity strengthening and sensitization should be increased to improve the ability of survivors to report cases so violators can be properly brought to book.”
Rivers State was further advised to show commitment towards ending SGBV by committing more funding to worthy SGBV activities, while governments (State and LGAs) should bring Community and religious leaders together to fashion how to align cultural and religious matters with present day realities to reduce developing conflicts.
“Government at state and local levels must address rising incidents of herders-farmers clashes and assaults which are affecting mainly women and children. Farmers are said to be the victims.”
Hotlines from the Ministry of Social Welfare for reporting on abuse cases were issued for further escalation to the media and response coordinators for ease of operation.
The stakeholders requested that a register of offenders should be kept and regularly published to shame offenders; and that for success and sustainability, there must be synergy among all the key stakeholders.
Some of the key personalities and experts that supported the initiative of Mfon Utin, the executive coordinator of HELDI, included Anslem Audu from the UNICEF; Justina Jumbo, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Social Welfare; Emem Jaja, Rivers State Primary Healthcare Management Board (RSPHMB); Vetty Agala, Rivers State Health Insurance Protection Programme (RSHIPP); Sam Onyeka from the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) group.
Key observers made by the experts included showed that although many civil organisations were seen sensitising the public, much work still needed to be done to curb sexual and gender-based violence in Rivers State.
It was pointed out that there is no harmonised status of groups working on SGBV in Rivers State; and that though some level of success has been recorded by HELDI in the campaign to end SGBV, two major challenges hamper progress: lack of safe centres for survivors, and prosecution of violators.
It was also observed that there seems to be lack of synergy between frontline government officials and civil society groups working on the matter in the field.
“The absence of data on incidents was stressed noting that it has robbed the state of funding opportunities from international partners. Rivers State does not have a standard data imputing format.”
It was also stated that men and boys were not being integrated in the dialogue to improve understanding of challenges and what to do; and that there was apparent lack of gender education taking roots at the home front so as to promote equality between boys and girls.
Need was observed for more awareness among community and religious groups on SGBV to encourage survivors in speaking out to end abuse.
The report indicated that although incidents of abuse occur in the communities, medical facilities are not functional in many.
The Ministry of Social Welfare however reported that it has an operational Safe Centre and soon-to-be commissioned ‘Sexual Assault Response Center’ equipped to deal with SGBV issues.
The Primary Healthcare Board informed of the existence of response centers in four places- Orogbum, Eliozu, Oyigbo and Ayama. It was revealed that personnel have been trained for 17 more centres soon to be opened while every LGA would eventually have one.
Local Government response coordinators indicated challenge with logistics and response from police and related stakeholders, but there was need for more strategies on how to tackle SGBV especially in the communities.
The cultural and religious dynamics on SGBV seem not being addressed, but campaigns seen not yet reaching all, as banks and other private sector zones are yet to be fully sensitised.
It was reported that violence is arising from new sources and angles such as the herders’ challenge. The Rivers State government was called upon to look into this new threat.
In an interview, Utin, the executive coordinator of HELDi, said it has taken the group a lot of efforts to bring to the fore the crisis facing victims and survivors of sexual and gender-based violence in Rivers State, but expressed excitement that the campaigns seem to pay off as more stakeholders have joined the efforts.
