Mrs. Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, the Minister of Women Affairs (FMWA), says that funding is a major challenge facing Service Providers battling to effectively respond to Gender- Based Violence in Ebonyi state.
The Minister made the observation last Wednesday, during a Coordination Meeting with the State Technical Working Group (TWG) on Eliminating Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) in the state.
Represented by Mrs. Angela Idalu, a Social Welfare Officer at the ministry, the minister said following cases reported by the service providers, “we understand that funding is a major challenge.
“Cases reported by the service providers, the health, police, Justice, civil society groups, non-governmental organizations, and other stakeholders showed that funding is a challenge.
“These are hard-working groups and we understand their plights,” she said.
Providing a solution to the poor funding, the minister pledged to link the state TWG to the federal ministry’s database to enable them to upload cases to the website for quick intervention.
She noted that the menace remained a threat to the health and safety of the vulnerable group.
She commended the state Ministry of Women Affairs for its tireless efforts and coordination role in addressing violence against women and girls ( VAWG ) in the state.
She acknowledged the support of the UNFPA in adopting a systematic approach to GBV intervention.
She also applauded the UNFPA’s concern in all forms of sexual and GBV, women’s health and well-being such as reproductive health rights, maternal mortality reduction, fistula, and other harmful practices.
The minister said the ministry would continue its partnership and collaboration with the agency and other stakeholders for service provision, protection, and mapping of services provided.
She added that the commitment would enable the FMWA to identify, scale up, replicate, and strengthen opportunities that would provide profiles of survivors for solutions.
She further stated that the ministry is establishing a national TWG that consists of state and non-state actors to strengthen collaboration and partnership in addressing sexual and GBV cases.
Mrs Felicia Nwankpuma, Ebonyi Commissioner for Women Affairs called on the UNFPA and FMWA for an increased partnership that would further add value to Ebonyi people.
Nwankpuma assured that the meeting would enhance synergy with all stakeholders and promote accountability on GBV programming for vulnerable groups in the state.
She thanked the UNFPA and USAID-MCGL for establishing an active situation room in the ministry for data management of all issues relating to GBV.
Okinya Matthias and the Executive Director Community Health and Development (CHAD) Initiative and Rapporteur Ebonyi State GBV Technical Working Group in his contribution commend the federal Ministry of Women Affairs for the tireless efforts and coordination roles in addressing the menace of violence against women and girls.
He said CHAD Initiative is committed to Supporting Women and building their Economic Skills through Saving group mobilization and Formation, Psychosocial Support Services, referral, etc. as our key roles being members State GBV Technical Working Group.
“As a way forward CHAD as a team of implementers on IGHUSUF-AFRICA Movement to #ENDFGM Project in collaboration with State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development funded by UNFPA/UNICEF have established ” Oganiru Umunwanyi Ebonyi Survivors Network” and advised State TWG members to always refer their Survivors to join the Network for Economic Empowerment and other Income Generating Activities rather than depending on their Perpetrator who use their Poverty status as an advantage to violate them.
He also suggests the Federal Ministry of Women’s Affairs and Social Development adopt a systematic approach to understanding the needs and prioritizing intervention concerns for all forms of SGBV for effective and efficient service delivery.
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