PRESS RELEASE
Abia State, Nigeria | 26 November 2025
G4GJ URGES ABIA STATE GOVERNMENT TO REINFORCE SYSTEMS FOR ENDING GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE
Following the global observance of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on 25 November 2025, the Group for Gender Justice (G4GJ) reiterates its firm call for urgent, coordinated, and sustained actions to end all forms of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Abia State.
The 25 November commemoration in Abia State was marked by a series of advocacy engagements, including panel discussions, radio phone-in programmes, and community sensitisation activities, all aimed at amplifying survivor voices, deepening public awareness, and strengthening collective resolve against gender-based violence. These activities formally ushered in the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.
Despite growing awareness, Abia State continues to record alarming cases of rape, defilement, domestic violence, harmful traditional practices, emotional abuse, and other forms of exploitation. These realities underscore the urgent need to move from policy statements to effective enforcement of existing legal frameworks, including the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law, the Child’s Rights Law, and other protective instruments designed to safeguard women, girls, and other vulnerable persons, particularly within indigenous communities.
In light of the foregoing, the Group for Gender Justice (G4GJ) calls on the Abia State Government to prioritise the following critical actions:
1. Revive and Fully Operationalise Gender Desks Across Key MDAs
G4GJ urges the Ministry of Women Affairs and the Ministry of Justice to ensure that their Gender Desks are made fully functional through:
✓ The deployment of professionally trained officers with expertise in survivor-centred and rights-based approaches;
✓ Provision of essential tools, logistics, and operational support; and
✓ Strengthened inter-ministerial communication to prevent fragmented and ineffective responses.
2. Strengthen Gender-Responsive Policing at the State CID
To enhance law-enforcement responsiveness to GBV, G4GJ calls for:
✓ Full staffing and adequate resourcing of the Gender Desk at the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID);
✓ Continuous capacity-building on gender rights, trauma-informed care, evidence handling, and survivor-sensitive documentation; and
✓ Streamlined referral pathways to minimise delays and secondary victimisation.
A professional and survivor-friendly policing system is vital to protection, investigation, and accountability.
3. Restore and Empower the Abia State GBV Response Team
The Abia State GBV Response Team, conceived as a multi-sectoral platform involving health institutions, law-enforcement agencies, legal actors, social welfare officers, and civil society organisations, should be immediately revitalised and empowered to ensure:
✓ Improved inter-agency coordination;
✓ Prompt and consistent follow-up on reported cases;
✓ Strengthened survivor support and protection services; and
✓ Clear accountability and monitoring mechanisms.
4. Accelerate the Completion and Operational Readiness of the Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC), Aba General Hospital
G4GJ notes with concern that the Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) at Aba General Hospital, though reportedly under construction, is not yet operational. The continued delay in activating this centre exposes survivors to unnecessary suffering, loss of critical medical and forensic evidence, and prolonged barriers to justice.
We therefore call on the Abia State Government to prioritise the speedy completion and immediate activation of the SARC by:
✓ Fast-tracking construction and necessary approvals;
✓ Deploying trained medical, forensic, and psychosocial professionals in readiness for commissioning;
✓ Providing essential forensic equipment, medical supplies, and survivor-support infrastructure; and
✓ Establishing clear referral and collaboration mechanisms with the police, prosecutors, social welfare agencies, and relevant civil society organisations.
A functional SARC is indispensable for survivor-centred care, evidence preservation, coordinated response, and effective prosecution of sexual violence cases.
5. Establish a Dedicated GBV Commission or Ministry
The establishment of a specialised GBV Commission or Ministry, similar to existing models in Lagos and Enugu States, would:
✓ Provide sustained leadership and policy direction on GBV issues;
✓ Enhance coordination across institutions and sectors;
✓ Position Abia State favourably for national and international technical and financial support; and
✓ Enable long-term planning for prevention, response, and survivor rehabilitation.
CONCLUSION
As the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence commence, G4GJ stands in solidarity with survivors and all stakeholders working toward a society free from violence.
We call on the Abia State Government to move beyond commitments and demonstrate leadership through concrete, measurable, and survivor-focused actions that strengthen the state’s entire GBV prevention and response architecture.
A government that protects its most vulnerable citizens lays the foundation for justice, safety, and inclusive development.
Every woman, girl, and vulnerable person deserves to be safe, respected, and heard in Abia State.
Signed:
1. African Centre for Human Advancement and Resource Support (CHARS-Africa).
2. Society for Human Rights Advocacy and Development.
3. Girls Rights Outreach Project (GROUP).
4. Centre for Human Rights Advocacy and Wholesome Society (CEHRAWS).
5. Centre for the Advancement of Children and Women’s Rights (CACWR).
6. Safe-home for Women Advocacy Network (SWAN).
7. Advocates for Gender and Child Rights.
8. Centre for the Advancement of the Rights of the Woman and Child.
9. Initiative for Gender and Child Rights.
