By Chris Chikelue
A stakeholders meeting of Public and Government Functionaries concerned with the handling of Gender Based Violence (GBV) has been held in Awka.
Venue of the meeting was at the Data Operation Centre, Ministry of Health, Anambra State.
Discussants took turns to discuss how they have been contributing to the recuperation of GBV Survivors and the retainment of culprits in government cum approved public facilities for correction and punishments of offenders as a deterrence to the general public.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Obiageli Uchebo while welcoming the gesture of constant review of the ways to handle GBV in the state, Its Survivors and culprits said that it is time to foster a Private Public Partnership (PPP) in the handling of GBV cases especially where it affects the Survivors.
“GBV is real, and it is eating away the fabrics of a peaceful coexistence in the society. We must find out how to get public spirited individuals to invest in the scope of RoLAC and help us with the rehabilitation of the Survivors while government can concentrate on the legal frameworks and the correction as well as the punishments of offenders.
While stating the reasons for the meeting and welcoming the participants, the State Project Coordinator, Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) Programme, Dr. Josephine Onah said that GBV has been on the rise and no one need to pretend it doesn’t exist.
She said that health workers, the Judiciary, office of the Women and Social Welfare, Security Officials and Correctional Service Officials should close the bridge between survival and prevention of the acts of GBV so that the society could boast of safety once more.
While elaborating on the roles of the stakeholders in strengthening the operational effectiveness and sustainability of the action, the RoLAC Consultant and Facilitator of the discussion, Mrs. Juliet Olumuyiwa-Rufai rolled out methods to adopt on strengthening the operational effectiveness and sustainability their plans.
It exposed the difficulties accrued in the access of justice for GBV cases which include the provision of ‘Rescue Homes’ for child Survivors and remand facilities for underaged offenders pending the time justice is granted at the Court of Justice.
To address these shortfalls stakeholders agreed that advocacies should be carried to various institutions that can be of help as well as to the wife of the governor of the state.
At the end of the meeting the participants agreed that the moves suggested if pursued in ernest would facilitate smooth running and handling of GBV cases in the state.
Chikelue is of the State Ministry of Information, Anambra State
