By Henry Ibya, Makurdi
Stakeholders in Benue State have been charged to ensure a stronger collaboration to end Gender-Based Violence, GBV, particularly against female sex workers and other marginalized women and girls as well as step up collective action to guarantee a society free from fear and oppression.
Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Mrs. Theresa Ikwue, gave the charge at a one-day Multi-Stakeholder Forum on GBV Response and Coordination, co-organized by the ministry and Concerned Women International Development Initiative, CWIDI, with support from the French Embassy Fund,FEF-OSC.
The forum, themed “Strengthening Multi-Stakeholder Coordination for Effective GBV Prevention and Response for Female Sex Workers and Other Marginalized Women and Girls” was held at Hallydays Hotel, Makurdi.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs. Martha Edoh, Ikwue described GBV as one of the most pervasive human rights violations globally, stressing that behind the statistics are stories of resilience and survival.
She said the forum was aimed at deepening coordination among actors to move beyond rhetoric toward sustainable action.
The Commissioner also noted the rise in technology-facilitated abuse, which according to her informed the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs’ focus on eliminating digital violence during the 2025 16 Days of Activism against GBV and commended CWIDI and other stakeholders for their efforts, noting that government cannot tackle GBV alone.
She urged participants to implement resolutions from the forum to strengthen partnerships, support survivors, and hold perpetrators accountable.
CWIDI’s Director of Programmes, Bridget Okeke, represented by Senior Project Officer Mrs. Becky Gbihi, said the forum sought to strengthen coordination among justice sector actors and community leaders, promote joint action, and ensure shared accountability.
She also emphasized that addressing GBV requires synergy among all relevant actors and close collaboration with constituted authorities to ensure justice for survivors and deterrence for offenders.
In a presentation titled “GBV Trends, Response Gaps and Strengthening Coordination”, Mimidoo Uhundu, Executive Director of Spring of Hope for the Girl Child Development Initiative, SHOGOI, identified prevalent GBV forms including early marriage, sexual violence, physical and emotional abuse, economic violence, and harmful traditional practices.
She noted that while women and girls are most affected, some men also suffer GBV in silence due to stigma.
Uhundu listed vulnerable groups to include adolescent girls and young women, female sex workers, internally displaced persons, widows, orphans, and girls with disabilities.
She attributed underreporting of GBV to stigma, fear of retaliation, financial barriers, weak institutions, and social norms and called on the Ministry of Women Affairs to play a stronger coordinating role, champion survivor-centered responses, and improve GBV data management in the state.
During panel discussions, DSP Helen Jande, Gender Desk Officer of the Benue State Police Command, said the Violence Against Persons Prohibition, VAPP, Act has strengthened prosecution of GBV cases but noted that inadequate funding and logistics remain major challenges.
The State Coordinator of the Sexual Assault Referral Centre, SARC, Linda Dirisu, stressed the need for sustained institutional collaboration and urged traditional rulers particularly to understand referral pathways.
She also proposed the creation of youth-led GBV ambassador groups to drive grassroots awareness and called for the establishment of a GBV data bank and state-owned dashboard.
Other contributors, including representatives from the Ministry of Justice, Lawyers Alert, and traditional institutions, pledged continued collaboration, emphasized proper documentation of GBV settlements, and reaf
