Cross River Partners multiple UN Agencies, NGOs, CSOs In Fight Against Gender Based Violence

Cross River Partners multiple UN Agencies, NGOs, CSOs In Fight Against Gender Based Violence

The Cross River State Government will be working with the United Nations (UN) and Civil Society Organizations in it's fight against Gender Based Violence (GBV) in the state.

The Partnership which is under the Spotlight Initiative will focus on Violence against women and Girl Child, Sexual Harassment, Battering and Molestation among others.

Speaking during the State Steering Committee report presentation meeting with the International Organizations and the Civil Society groups, Commissioner for International Development Cooperation,Dr Inyang Asibong said Cross  River State under Governor Ben Ayade has directed all the line Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to key into the spotlight initiative in fighting Gender Based Violence.

Asibong Said the Ministry of Women Affairs and the Department of Gender  Office under the supervision of the Deputy Governor, are directly involved in the activities while her office as Donor Cooperation is engaging with the Partners to guarantee a mutually effective working relationship in Cross River. 

"Cross River State Government has  intensified efforts to work with the Spotlight Initiative programme to focus on eliminating violence against women and girls including Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) and harmful practices. 

"Since the Spotlight Initiative is built under the auspices of Goal 5 of the Sustainable Development Goals which speaks on gender equality and women empowerment, more women associations like the Medical Women Association and others should be engaged and encouraged to promote the guiding principle of Agenda 2030, and carrying everybody along.

"Your visit to present the reports of your findings and meetings with different Government agencies and groups will help us to update our data and information on the subject matter.

"You will remember that His Excellency the Govenor ably represented by his Deputy ,Prof Ivara Esu has given you all the assurances as the highest body for such endorsement and support needed during the courtesy call earlier in the week.

"Mine is to get the report and information with data as you have presented and sent to his Excellency through the Ministry of women Affairs whose responsibility is to implement some of the areas of action,and I can assure you that will be done"She added.

In his presentation of  the report, the UN Team Leader and Spotlight Initiative Joint monitoring Head, Mr. Yinka Akibu said although Cross River State has done excellently well, there's still a need for concerted efforts to end violence against women and girls and all forms of harmful practices. 

He added that the programme is built around six interconnected and mutually reinforcing pillars focusing on laws and policies, institutions, prevention and social norms, services, data, and women’s rights movement, driving innovation and transformative programming to end violence.

"With this initiative,Cross River State government can intensify efforts to eliminate these social vices and improve the wellbeing of women, girls and vulnerable people" he explained. 

At the report presentation meeting were the relevant line MDAs from the Cross River  State Government, the UN, CSOs and NGOs.