ABSG, VSI working with security Agencies towards coordinated approach to curb GBV in Abia
By: Imo Thomas -Umuahia.
Abia state government, through the office of the wife of Abia state Governor, and Vision Spring Initiatives (VSI), a non-governmental organization, is working with security Agencies towards a coordinated approach to curb Gender Based Violence (GBV) in Abia state.
The coordinated approach was put forward during a training program put together by Vision Spring Iniatives (VSI), a non- governmental organization in partnership with the office of the wife of the Governor of Abia state, for law enforcement officers towards a more coordinated approach to responding to sexual violence in Abia state, held at the Police Officers Mess Umuahia.
The wife of Abia state Governor, Mrs Priscilla Chidinma Otti, who declared the training program open, commended the Nigeria Police for dedicating themselves to keeping the society self.
She stated that GBV is a human rights violation, that has threatened the fabric of society, and that demands a United, strategic, and well-equipped response.
The wife of Abia state Governor, announced that a functional GBV response team designed to swiftly and effectively address cases of violence against women and girls has been formally inaugurated in the state.
Mrs Otti equally stated that the GBV management committee, which includes the Ministry of Women Affairs commissioner and the Ministry of Justice and Attorney General, coordinates policy matters as it concerns GBV cases in the state.
She also announced that the state government has put forward a dedicated fund for the GBV response team to work with, stating that funding will not hinder their work.
In his goodwill message, the Commissioner of Police, Abia State, CP. Danladi Isa, represented by DCP. Hayatu Shaffer,in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Abia state police command, thanked Abia’s First Lady and Vision Spring Initiatives for putting forward the training program and stated that the state police command is committed to combating all forms of gender based violence and other crimes in the state.
CP. Isa, said that their collaboration with the convener of the program and the office of Abia state first lady,has brought notable results in improving police response and enhancing justice delivery in the state.
In their own remarks, during the training program, Abia state commissioner for women Affairs, Mrs Maureen Aghukwa and that of ministry of poverty allivation and social protection counterpart, Mrs. Ngozi Felix, stated that the state has established a one -stop shop for survivors of sexual and gender based violence, which is critical to GBV response and are equally committed to working with security Agencies in the state towards fighting GBV cases to a standstill.
They equally stated that the Sexual Assault Referral Center(SARC) under the Rule of Law and anti- corruption(Rolac)ll program located at Aba General Hospital is nearing completion with commissioning anticipated by July 2025.
” The center will be a game -changer in providing comprehensive care and support to survivors,”the commissioners stated.
In her address the Executive Director, Vision Spring Iniatives, Mrs.Ngozi Nwosu -Juba, the convener of the program,listed the causes of sexual and gender based violence to include poverty leading to early marriage, breaking of services including law and order, conflict and war, displacement, stress at homes and unequal power relations.
She thanked the state government for making effort towards building a referral center that will look after survivors of GBV.
She equally pointed out that there is skills gap and the response team members requires training and retraining to be up to speed.she also observed a funding gap and called for a well coordinated Abia state demostic and sexual response unit that will in future translate to an Agency with full funding for the stakeholders.
The training program that is conducted in batches will be concluded on Friday.
