Key stakeholders addressing Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Ebonyi State have agreed to implement a standardised referral pathway framework to improve coordinated responses to GBV and combat child trafficking across the state.
The resolution was contained in a communiqué issued on Monday in Abakaliki, following a strategic meeting involving members of the GBV Taskforce, security agencies, civil society organisations, and other relevant stakeholders.
Participants at the meeting included representatives from the Ebonyi State Ministries of Health and Education, human rights organisations, and other state and non-state actors working to strengthen the state’s response to gender-based violence and human trafficking.
According to the communiqué, stakeholders agreed that establishing a unified referral system would help close existing gaps in the response network while promoting stronger collaboration among agencies responsible for handling GBV and trafficking cases.
The new framework is expected to enhance inter-agency communication, collaboration, and coordination, ensuring that survivors of gender-based violence receive timely and survivor-centred support across multiple sectors.
To further strengthen the response system, stakeholders resolved to organise regular capacity-building training for professionals and institutions involved in GBV response, improving their ability to handle cases effectively and provide appropriate support services for survivors.
They also agreed to strengthen data collection, documentation, and information sharing systems to support evidence-based policies, improve prevention strategies, and guide informed decision-making across institutions.
The communiqué emphasised the need for increased community awareness on GBV reporting mechanisms, encouraging victims and community members to report cases early so survivors can access medical, legal, and psychosocial support.
Under the new arrangement, the Ebonyi State Ministry of Health will coordinate the development of a harmonised referral protocol, while security agencies will designate dedicated GBV focal persons to handle gender-based violence and trafficking cases.
Civil society organisations and human rights groups were also encouraged to intensify community sensitisation campaigns aimed at educating residents on GBV prevention and available support systems for victims.
Stakeholders further agreed to hold quarterly coordination meetings to review progress, address challenges, and sustain collaboration among all actors involved in tackling gender-based violence in the state.
Speaking during the meeting, the Ebonyi State Coordinator of the GBV Taskforce, Faithvin Nwanchor, commended participating organisations and urged them to appoint focal persons to streamline referral processes and improve survivors’ access to services.
She also acknowledged the Johns Hopkins Programme for International Education in Gynecology and Obstetrics (JHPIEGO) for supporting the taskforce in strengthening referral systems to address GBV and child trafficking.
In her remarks, the programme’s Ebonyi State Team Lead, Nneka Dikeocha, called on stakeholders to renew their commitment and deepen collaboration in efforts to eliminate gender-based violence.
“We are back and want the state to feel our impact on response,” she said, stressing the importance of achieving measurable progress in protecting vulnerable groups and combating GBV in Ebonyi State.
Stakeholders at the meeting reaffirmed their commitment to building a stronger, coordinated, and survivor-centred response system to address gender-based violence and child trafficking across the state.
The event also featured reports on interventions and activities implemented by various organisations between December 2025 and March 2026 as part of ongoing efforts to tackle GBV in Ebonyi.
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