By Austin Angwe, Makurdi
Concerned Women International Development Initiative (CWIDI), with support from the French Embassy Fund (FEF-OSC), has concluded a two-day capacity-building workshop aimed at strengthening trauma-informed responses to Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Benue State.
The workshop, held at Hallydays Hotel, Makurdi, focused on trauma-informed GBV response, basic legal knowledge on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) reporting, and confidentiality protocols.
Participants were drawn from traditional institutions, religious bodies, Benue State Civil Protection Guards, youth groups, women leaders, and other community stakeholders.
The training equipped them with practical skills to provide safe, ethical, and legally informed first responses to survivors of GBV, especially within vulnerable populations.
Speaking during the opening session, CWIDI Director of Programmes, Mrs. Bridget Okeke, described the participants as critical stakeholders, noting that they are often the first point of contact for survivors.
According to her, how survivors are received and treated at that initial stage can determine whether they will seek further justice or withdraw in silence.
Mrs. Okeke, represented by CWIDI’s Senior Project Officer, Mrs. Becky Gbihi, lamented that many women suffer prolonged trauma due to poor responses from families and communities, sometimes leading to severe emotional distress.
She emphasized that victims of rape, domestic violence, or abuse should not be blamed, but supported and guided toward justice and healing.
She also called on parents and community leaders to stop normalizing violence against women, stressing that no form of abuse is justified and that women deserve dignity, protection, and equal treatment.
In a presentation on Understanding Gender-Based Violence and Legal Frameworks, Barrister Justin Gbagir of the Justice and Rights Initiative educated participants on human rights, forms of GBV, and provisions of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (VAPP Act).
He explained reporting procedures, protection orders, and the roles of service providers and courts in GBV cases.
Another session on Confidentiality and Ethical Protocols was delivered by Dr. Pauline Atsehe, a Clinical Psychologist from Father Moses Adasu University, who emphasized the importance of confidentiality in helping survivors feel safe and recover from trauma.
Participants, including traditional rulers such as Chief Vitalis Saakuma and Ugondo Tor, commended CWIDI for the training and pledged to share the knowledge within their communities.
They also appealed to the Benue State Government to partner with CWIDI to expand GBV awareness and response programmes across rural areas.
The workshop concluded with a renewed commitment by stakeholders to support survivors, promote justice, and work collectively to reduce Gender-Based Violence in Benue State.
