By Peter Duru, Makurdi

The Coordinator of Benue State Sexual Assault Referral Centre, SARC, Mrs. Linda Ene Dirisu has called for the strengthening of collaboration among stakeholders to tackle the menace of Genda Based Violence, GBV, and rape as well as the challenges faced by the survivors and victims in the state.

Speaking on the sidelines of a one-day Policy Roundtable and Stakeholders Engagement with State GBV Task Force and MDAs with the theme “Strengthening Institutional Response and Coordination on GBV in Benue state,” the SARC State Coordinator said the call became necessary given the increasing rate of sexual violence in the state.

She explained that the engagement which attracted over 22 stakeholders and partners availed them the platform to brainstorm on how far they have gone in the fight against GBV in the state, evaluate their efforts, look at the lapses, gaps in services so far, and see how they can strengthen collaboration and work closely together and better to solve the problem of survivors of GBV in the state.

According to her, “the issue of sexual violence in Benue State, to be honest, is on a high side and that is why there is need for us to call on ourselves like this, to brainstorm on the best ways to handle the issue on ground.

“This project, the GAP GBV project, which is being funded by the Action Aid, through the Benue State Sexual Assault Referral Center, has given us that opportunity to see how we can extend the training to traditional rulers and the religious leaders in the rural areas, because we believe that in tackling the issue of GBV there is high rise of it in the rural areas, and in doing that, we cannot be in all the local governments and in all the wards.

“So this project is not just interacting with state stakeholders and front-liners, but we are also taking it down to the grassroots, to the vulnerable in all the local governments, and see how we can also synergize with the Primary Healthcare Clinics that we have in the local governments.

“We will see how we can also collaborate with the police in all the local governments and the Gender-Desk in all the local governments. That way it also makes our work easier and seamless at the Benue State SARC.”

The State Coordinator who acknowledged operational challenges faced in executing the task, which included funding among others said, “in as much as we have great passion for this work, we also need to call on the relevant heads to assist us with funding.”

The Director General of the Bureau for International Cooperation and Development, BICD, Dr. Aondoaseer Viashima noted the challenge posed by GBV in the state and the concerted efforts being made by the SARC to tackle the menace head-on.

He stated that the meeting would help identify and sensitize “critical stakeholders that can support us in driving advocacy for reduction of GBV and of course helping us with survivors of GBV to seek redress.

“So the meeting today is basically a meeting that strengthens that resolve of Governor Hyacinth Alia to curb GBV in the state and reduce it to the barest minimum. That is basically the essence of why we are here today.”

On her part, the Zonal Commander of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, Mrs. Gloria Bai who emphasized the importance of the meeting said it would help galvanise the fight against GBV, sexual exploitation of minors and young persons in the state.

Also, the Chairperson of the Women Wing of Jama’atu Nasril Islam, JNI, Hajia Hauwa Isa who lauded SARC for convening the meeting said it would help stakehokders strengthen the fight against GBV and rape cases in the state.

The Legal and Compliance Officer of the MAP-GBV Project, Barr. Beatrice Kandeor
who noted that much was being done to ensure the prosecution of offenders said “we have won a number of cases and we still have some that are in court.

“And we have done a lot when it comes to persecution of cases as it relates to GBV issues. And we always encourage people to come out. It is when people speak out about GBV issues that we will be able to get the perpetrators and actually arraign then in court and then for the survivors to get the justice that they need.”