By Eunice Nnachi
A non-governmental organization, the Fringe Voices Development Foundation, has engaged the women focused CSOs and leaders in Bayelsa State on the needed strategies and how to tackle gender based violence in the state.
The programme, which brought over fourty women leaders across the selected communities in Bayelsa State, was supported by the Nigeria Women Trust Fund.
Tagged; “Investing in Young Women’s Leadership to Combat Gender Based Violence in Local Government”, the workshop was aimed at strengthen reporting strategies of gender based violence in the state.
Executive Director of Fringe Voices Development Foundation, Tare Maureen, I her welcome address, stated that the the foundation brought together women from the community they intend to work with together for to reeled out the root causes of gender based violence as well as the harmful social norns.
She said: “Women focused CSOs in Bayelsa, and we are doing with the support from the Nigerian Women Trust Fund, we have people from Communities that we have been working with and communities that we intend to work with.
“So, what we are doing is trying to see that we build the leadership of women in the state to tackle gender based violence, and also for us to strengthen reporting strategies, so that why were calling on the communities that we intend to work with to see that reporting of gender based violence is something we can take further.
“We are not doing this alone, we are also working with International Federation of Female Lawyers, we are also working with the Bayelsa State Ministry of Women, Children Affairs and Social Development.” She added.
Speaking on the Case Management, Safe Reporting and Survivor Centred Response, a Deputy Director in the Bayelsa State Ministry of Women, Children Affairs and Social Development, Mr Igoniderigha Dengiyfa-Anderson, described gender based violence as harmful attack on someone based on gender, calling for policy implementation against gender based violence both at the state and national levels.
He traced the causes of gender based violence to illiteracy, poverty, lack of employment opportunities, inequality, weak laws, child marriage and conflict and war.
He urged people to speak out when they are facing gender based violence, as well as government to strengthen the implementation of laws against the gender based violence.
Also Speaking, the Chairman of the International Federation of female Lawyers (FIDA) in Bayelsa State, Barr Boma Miebai, said that the state must have a very strong referral pathway to address the incessant cases of gender based violence.
She urged the victims to always speak out when they face such challenges, hunting that in 2025 alone, FIDA was able to secure 5 judgements in respect to gender based violence in Bayelsa State.
