By Marie-Therese Nanlong

Jos – As a part of the commitment to end violence against women and girls, the International Federation of Women Lawyers, FIDA Nigeria on Wednesday hosted the Annual State Experiential Learning and Sharing Forum on Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Prevention.

The forum, held as a continuation of FIDA Nigeria’s ongoing advocacy and community engagement initiatives, drew participants from diverse sectors, including traditional and religious leaders, community stakeholders, and beneficiaries from focal States across the country.

In her opening remarks, the Country Vice President/National President of FIDA Nigeria, Mrs. Eliana Martins, welcomed participants and noted that the forum marks a critical step in building on the momentum from previous dialogues held under the project’s umbrella between October 2024 and April 2025.

Represented by the State Chairperson of FIDA, Mrs. Na’ankus Fyaktu, she explained that the dialogues engaged key influencers such as traditional leaders, religious leaders, multi-stakeholder platforms, and male allies advocating for gender justice.

Mrs. Martins emphasised the importance of creating a shared understanding of prevention strategies against Gender-Based Violence (GBV), noting that the beneficiaries of these dialogues have been empowered as “custodians of knowledge” and change agents in their communities.

She highlighted the vital role these stakeholders play in challenging harmful traditional, religious, and gender norms while working towards gender equality and justice for women and girls.

“The Experiential Learning, Sharing Forum,” she disclosed, “is a platform to assess achievements, capture lessons learned, and review the challenges faced by beneficiaries in their work with local community and religious leaders.

“It offers an opportunity to evaluate the project’s impact, document progress, and ensure that key insights on local realities inform future GBV prevention programmes.”

Mrs Martins also underlined the forum’s goal to amplify success stories, highlight best practices, and ensure the sustainability of the project’s outcomes beyond the implementation phase and appreciated the Ford Foundation for their invaluable support, reiterating FIDA Nigeria’s dedication to safeguarding the rights, safety, and dignity of women and girls in local communities.

As the forum got underway, participants were encouraged to engage meaningfully, share experiences, and contribute to a collective vision of a society free from violence and discrimination.

FIDA Nigeria however commended the Plateau State Government for scaling up its budgetary allocation for gender-based violence (GBV) interventions, describing it as a major step towards addressing the plight of women and girls in the State.

The State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs.Caroline Dafur, through Mr. Sunday Dombin, a Director in the Ministry, pointed out the State’s renewed commitments to tackle GBV saying, “In the past, our resources were limited, but today we have more than tripled our budget. We are now able to reach all 17 LGAs with sensitization, support services, and survivor-centred interventions.”

Nene Dung of the Gender and Equal Opportunities Commission highlighted the role of community structures, revealing that 120 men had been trained and deployed as community watchdogs to monitor and report GBV cases as she praised FIDA’s impact in promoting women’s leadership and ensuring access to justice for survivors.

Representatives from the Plateau State Traditional Council echoed the call for stronger enforcement of gender justice laws, including parental responsibilities and equitable inheritance rights.

The forum concluded with a renewed commitment from all stakeholders to strengthen partnerships, consolidate gains in gender equality, and scale up policies and interventions that protect the rights of women and girls across the State.