By Winnie Onu, Makurdi
A non-governmental organisation, Concerned Women International Development Initiative (CWIDI), has urged the Benue State Government to immediately strengthen the state’s Assault Referral Centre to address increasing Gender-Based Violence (GBV) against women.
CWIDI warned that the growing cases of gender-based violence against women particularly female sex workers are going unaddressed due to weak support systems.
The call was made on Friday by CWIDI’s Executive Director, Mrs. Bridget Okeke, represented by Mrs. Becky Gbihi, at the close-out ceremony of the group’s two-year Amplify Change–supported project, Enhancing Protection from Gender-Based Violence for Female Sex Workers in Makurdi.
Okeke said many survivors, especially sex workers, remain unable to report abuse because the referral centre is not fully functional and cannot provide the legal protection they require.
She disclosed that in the last two years CWIDI has referred 25 cases of GBV involving female sex workers to the Human Rights Commission, NAPTIP and FIDA, noting that the organisation has worked to close critical gaps in access to justice by improving awareness of legal protections.
The executive director explained that through training, dialogues and community engagement, CWIDI has supported at least 120 female sex workers with skills in five trades and educated them on their rights under the Revised National Gender Policy and the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, VAPP 2015.
She noted that the training was later cascaded to benefit more than 600 female sex workers across Makurdi, Gboko and Gwer East LGAs.
“Female sex workers face daily discrimination, harassment and violence from clients and even law enforcement officers. The fear of arrest and stigma prevents them from reporting abuse because there are no laws specifically protecting them,” Okeke said.
She reiterated the organisation’s demand for a strengthened referral centre and broader rights awareness for vulnerable groups.
In her closing remarks, the Director of Women Affairs at the Benue State Ministry of Women Affairs, Mrs. Magdalene Andor represented by Mrs. Afatar Esther commended CWIDI for its efforts in combating GBV and empowering female sex workers.
Andor assured that the ministry would continue collaborating with groups advancing the rights and welfare of women in the state.
