RIVERS MOVES TO UNIFY GBV RESPONSE ACROSS STATE

The Rivers State Government is moving to establish a unified system for tackling gender-based violence, with plans to develop a Standard Operating Procedure, SOP, to coordinate prevention and response efforts across the state.

The initiative, led by the Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development, CEHRD, in collaboration with the Rivers State Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, is expected to clearly define the roles of government agencies, civil society organisations and other stakeholders involved in GBV response.

Speaking at a fact-finding meeting organised by CEHRD and the Ministry, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Lauretta Davies-Dimkpa, said the SOP would reduce duplication of efforts and ensure survivors receive timely and appropriate support.

Davies-Dimkpa called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders, stressing that a coordinated approach would improve the fight against gender-based violence.

She also urged greater attention to communities at the grassroots, saying the Ministry is strengthening sensitisation programmes through its zonal offices.

The Permanent Secretary acknowledged that the Ministry has yet to achieve full coverage across all 23 local government areas, but said efforts are underway to expand its reach.

She said the Ministry is also working with religious, traditional and community leaders to take GBV awareness closer to residents.

Davies-Dimkpa noted that fear, ignorance, cultural practices and intimidation may prevent victims and survivors from speaking out.

She therefore urged residents to report cases of GBV and encouraged religious leaders to use their influence to promote reporting, challenge harmful practices and protect women and children.

Meanwhile, CEHRD Project Lead, Josiah Egbilika, said the fact-finding exercise was aimed at identifying the roles of stakeholders, highlighting gaps in existing interventions and improving coordination.

Egbilika said information gathered from the exercise would form the basis for drafting the Rivers State SOP, which would undergo technical review and validation by relevant institutions.

He explained that the validation process would also determine whether the responsibilities currently handled by different institutions fall within their official mandates.

Where responsibilities are found to be outside an institution’s mandate, Egbilika said they would be reassigned to the appropriate agency.

He expressed optimism that the process would lead to the eventual launch of the Rivers State Standard Operating Procedure for the Prevention and Response to Gender-Based Violence.

The meeting brought together representatives of the Ministries of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Health, Justice, Women Affairs and Education, as well as CSOs, NGOs, security agencies, human rights institutions and religious and traditional bodies.

Participants discussed their experiences and respective roles in preventing and responding to GBV, ending the meeting with a renewed commitment to building a more coordinated response across Rivers State.

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