After a media round-table organised by the Girls Power Initiative (GPI) to flag off the annual 16 Days of Activism, a plan to combat Gender-Based Violence (GBV) has been developed in Calabar the Cross River state capital NEGROIDHAVEN can report.
The 6 points workplan aimed at combating GBV touched on Standard Operating Procedures, psychosocial counseling, synergy between stakeholders, insurance, funding and increased reportage on GBV.
The developed workplan contains that there should be a well-developed ‘Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for GBV, establishment of one stop center where survivors can access post GBV care such as psychosocial counselling, need for synergy between Department of Public Prosecution and other partners towards litigation of GBV incidences, insurance of non-payment of medical certificate to GBV survivors, funding of GBV programme, response should be prioritised and made deliberate by the government, and the media should increase reportage on GBV and follow up on such case as well as creating awareness of GBV and availability of post GBV care for survivors.’
Speaking earlier, Comfort Ikpeme the Coordinator of GPI Calabar Center who expressed how happy she was to be able to host the event and thanked the media houses for responding to the invitation, stated that ‘this issue of GBV ( Gender Based Violence) is not new to us, like the theme suggests we are here to draw out work plan on how to conquer it.’
On her part, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Cross River state, Rita Ayim urged cases of GBV in the state should be reported to relevant authorities while encouraging all to work with supportive partners so the rate of gender abuse will reduce in the state. She stressed the need for media houses to help and their capacity to help report abuse cases to relevant authorities, informing that the government is willing to help at any point.
The representative of the NBA Cross River State chapter stated that there are too many existing laws around GBV without enforcement. He encouraged the enforcement of laws noting that ‘prosecutions of perpetrators should be encouraged’.
The leader of Public Prosecution at Ministry of Justice, simply identified as Barrister Titim informed that the ministry does not charge to defend victims of GBV and other similar cases brought to them. He stated some challenges of the ministry such as funding. According to him, ‘some victims don’t have money to pay for medical reports and sometimes they even need funds to appear in court’s. He called for more funds to be made available so that it can help make their job efficient: ‘the society should be educated that jungle justice is not a good route to handling GBV cases, every victims should be encouraged to report to relevant authorities. He called for collaboration of other agencies to help with correct investigation process when cases are reported observing that sometimes the victims would not want to continue with the case for reasons such as ridicule from society, pressure from friends or family members. He urged all to encourage victims to speak and appeal to media houses to publicise the activities of the ministry because it will help reduce crime when the society is aware that perpetrators are brought to book.
