South-West States Urged to Collaborate on GBV Issues

Tumininu Adedeji, the Executive Director of Balm Gilead Foundation, called for collaboration among South-West states to address the gaps in gender-based violence (GBV) prevention and response during an inter-state dialogue held in Ekiti on Monday. The event, themed "Strengthening Women's Rights," highlighted the persistent challenges in coordinating effective GBV responses across the region.

Adedeji noted that despite increasing efforts in states like Lagos, Ekiti, Osun, Ondo, Oyo, and Ogun, survivors still face barriers in accessing quality services. Gbemiga Adaramola, the Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice in Ekiti, described the project as necessary to address the ongoing crisis.

He emphasized the importance of proactive strategies in GBV response. Oluwapomil Sodeind from the National Human Rights Commission stressed the need for accountability and better resource allocation.

The dialogue produced an action plan to ensure that GBV responses are not limited to regional boundaries, aiming to strengthen the overall response system.