CROSS RIVER, AKPBUYO – Gender And Development Action, GADA, with support from the Ford Foundation, on Monday convened a special session to develop a unified plan of action against gender-based violence in Akpabuyo Local Government Area.
The one-day meeting held at the Akpabuyo Local Government Council Hall brought together traditional rulers, Customary Court presidents, religious leaders, women rights groups, media practitioners, and community crisis managers.
The session commenced at 10 a.m. with participant registration, followed by an opening prayer, introductions, and an opening address that set the ethical tone for collective responsibility.
Goodwill messages from key stakeholders emphasized that gender-based violence has shifted from isolated abuse to a systemic development threat requiring coordinated institutional action.
Presenting a draft Unified Action Plan, GADA officials mbassador Nkoyo Toyo said the framework was designed to change behavior, enforce social norms, strengthen laws, and protect women and girls.
“The aim is to build safer communities, strengthen institutional accountability, and reduce the open acceptance of violence as a way of life,” GADA stated in its invitation letter to stakeholders.
Session One examined the role of GADA and Akpabuyo Local Government Council in driving policy direction, coordination, and budget-backed implementation of GBV prevention strategies.
Participants stressed that local government ownership remains critical to translating plans into shelters, referrals, and survivor-centered services.
Session Two focused on the responsibilities of Women Rights Organizations, the media, and Customary Courts in prevention, reporting, justice delivery, and ethical storytelling.
Media practitioners were urged to amplify survivor voices responsibly while discouraging stigma and silence surrounding abuse cases.
Session Three highlighted the roles of traditional leaders, religious leaders, and Community Crisis Management Teams in reshaping norms and early intervention.
Stakeholders agreed that moral authority within communities must be used to challenge harmful practices and protect vulnerable women and children.
During plenary discussions, a social welfare official narrated a case involving a 21-year-old woman forced into a survival relationship due to poverty.
“She received repeated calls threatening that if she refused to hand over her child, she would die,” the official said, describing the intimidation as severe.
The official said authorities interviewed the survivor and documented details but lacked resources to ensure safety or resolve the case.
“We could not really see available resources to rely on,” the stakeholder said, calling for budgetary allocation to establish shelters and emergency support.
Participants warned that unresolved cases expose children to danger and normalize impunity, undermining ethical governance and sustainable development.
GADA said the unified plan prioritizes survivor safety, reporting mechanisms, community accountability, and inter-agency collaboration.
In a formal invitation signed by Acting Executive Director, Dr. Momm A., GADA stated that the meeting sought joint commitment to advance women’s rights.
The meeting ended with agreement on next steps, group photographs, and closing remarks, as stakeholders pledged sustained action.
Participants resolved that silence would no longer be tolerated, insisting that ethics, safety, and development must guide Akpabuyo’s response to gender-based violence.