By Nnasom David

The Center for Peace Advocacy and Sustainable Development (CEPASD) has convened a multi-stakeholder roundtable in Abuja aimed at strengthening collective action toward the prevention of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and promoting coordinated responses among key institutions and community actors as well as to strengthen institutional responses across communities in the Federal Capital Territory.

The roundtable brought together government representatives, civil society actors, women leaders, youth advocates, community stakeholders, and development partners to discuss practical strategies for preventing violence, improving referral systems, and addressing harmful social norms that continue to expose women and girls to abuse.

Speaking at the event, Executive Director of CEPASD, Augustine Igweshi, said gender-based violence remains one of the most pressing social challenges affecting families and communities, stressing that prevention requires deliberate action from both institutions and citizens.

According to him, while legal and policy frameworks exist, stronger coordination, local ownership, and community-level engagement are needed to make prevention efforts more effective.

“Gender-Based Violence is not only a violation of rights; it is also a development and peace issue. Preventing it requires that institutions, community leaders, families, and young people work together to challenge harmful norms, strengthen reporting systems, and support survivors with dignity,” he said.

He explained that the roundtable was designed to create space for practical dialogue on the responsibilities of different stakeholders, particularly in areas such as early reporting, access to justice, public awareness, and social accountability.

Participants identified silence, stigma, weak community reporting pathways, and tolerance of harmful practices as major barriers to prevention, while also emphasizing the need for stronger awareness of legal protections such as the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act.

Stakeholders at the meeting stressed that traditional and religious leaders must play more visible roles in challenging harmful cultural narratives, while schools, families, and media institutions should help shape values of equality, non-violence, and respect.

The discussions also highlighted the importance of strengthening referral pathways so that survivors can access medical care, psychosocial support, legal assistance, and protection services without delay.

CEPASD noted that evidence-based advocacy remains critical in influencing policy decisions and ensuring that interventions respond to realities faced by women and girls at the grassroots.

The organization reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining partnerships that promote women’s leadership, community dialogue, and coordinated prevention strategies as part of broader efforts toward peaceful and inclusive development.

The event is part of the CEPASD activity for its Women Leading Change project supported by the Nigerian Women Trust Fund