GADA, BRCI Lead Advocacy Campaign As Six C’River Communities Sign GBV Communiqué

CROSS RIVER, CALABAR – Six communities in Cross River State have pledged to increase women’s participation in traditional leadership and strengthen local responses to Gender-Based Violence (GBV) following a two-day stakeholders’ training organized by the Basic Rights Counsel Initiative (BRCI) in collaboration with Gender and Development Action (GADA).

The traditional leaders, drawn from Bekwarra, Biase and Obubra Local Government Areas, concluded the training by signing a communiqué committing their communities to promote women’s inclusion in community leadership structures and intensify efforts to prevent and respond to gender-based violence.

The training, held on June 25 and 26 at the Prof. Bene Madunagu Hall in Calabar, brought together about 50 participants, including traditional rulers, government officials, civil society organisations and community leaders to strengthen GBV referral pathways and improve collaboration among service providers.

Speaking during the opening session, the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of BRCI, Barrister James Ibor, said the training was designed to build the capacity of stakeholders and strengthen referral systems to ensure survivors of gender-based violence receive timely support and justice.

“The reason for this training is to build capacity and strengthen referral pathways among partners while emphasizing the need to collaborate and ensure that survivors of gender-based violence access the required GBV services in their communities,” Ibor said.

He explained that the intervention forms part of the Local Rights Project funded by ActionAid Nigeria and implemented in Bekwarra, Biase and Obubra Local Government Areas to improve community protection mechanisms and access to justice for survivors.

Cross River State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hon. Edema Ayami Irom, urged traditional institutions and community leaders to take deliberate action against harmful cultural practices that expose women and girls to violence.

She reaffirmed the state’s commitment to tackling gender-based violence, saying her ministry remains determined to reduce social problems affecting women and vulnerable groups across the state.

Irom called on community leaders to champion the campaign against harmful traditional practices and ensure that women are given greater opportunities to participate in community decision-making processes.

Information reaching Truth Live News has it that participants received training on gender, power relations, harmful social norms, existing GBV laws in Cross River State, women’s leadership, referral pathways and community responsibilities in supporting survivors.

Facilitators also guided participants through practical case studies and group discussions aimed at improving community responses to violence against women and girls while strengthening collaboration among government agencies, healthcare providers, the police, civil society organisations and traditional institutions.

During the community action planning session, leaders from the six participating communities agreed to gradually integrate women into traditional leadership by appointing them to strategic community committees as a pathway toward broader inclusion in decision-making.

The stakeholders also resolved to improve coordination among referral service providers to ensure survivors have easier access to healthcare, legal assistance, psychosocial support and other essential protection services.

According to the organisers, the workshop strengthened partnerships among government institutions, civil society organisations, traditional leaders and community stakeholders while reinforcing collective efforts to reduce gender-based violence across the three participating local government areas.

GADA, which collaborated with BRCI in the stakeholders’ engagement, described the commitments made by community leaders as an important step toward building safer, more inclusive communities where women and girls can live free from violence and discrimination.