Calabar, Nigeria – In a legislative move aimed at tackling the rising cases of Gender-Based Violence (GBV), the Bakassi Legislative Assembly has announced a public hearing on the proposed Gender-Based Violence (Prohibition, Prevention, and Response) Byelaw, 2025. The hearing is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, at 11:00 a.m., within the chambers of the Bakassi Legislative Assembly, Ikot Effiom, Cross River State.
According to a formal invitation issued by the Clerk of the House, Jesam Ewa Odu, the byelaw is designed “to ensure the protection of lives, dignity, and wellbeing of all persons—particularly women, girls, and other vulnerable groups.” The document emphasizes that the bill will establish a legal and social framework for prevention, accountability, survivor support, and public education around issues of GBV.
“This byelaw seeks to address the growing concern of Gender-Based Violence in our communities,” the statement reads. “We encourage all stakeholders to attend and make meaningful contributions toward strengthening this important legislation.”
The Bakassi Legislative Assembly is calling on civil society organizations, traditional rulers, youth groups, religious bodies, the media, and members of the general public to participate in the hearing. The inclusive approach is intended to ensure the bill reflects the lived realities of those most affected by gender-based violence in the coastal and conflict-impacted local government area.
The hearing marks another step in the Assembly’s broader commitment to safeguarding vulnerable populations and promoting justice and equity across the region. Stakeholders see it as a timely response to local and national calls for stronger legal protections and better institutional response to GBV.
For further inquiries, members of the public are encouraged to contact the legislative assembly.
