Utibe-Abasi Bassey-Duke facilitates Domestication of CRSAP to prevent VAWG

Utibe-Abasi Bassey-Duke, Special Assistant, Gender Mainstreaming, On June 27, 2024, facilitated a session to review and domesticate the Cross River State Action Plan on Preventing Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG).

The event, which was hosted by Women International League for Peace and Freedom Nigeria in collaboration with the State Ministry of Women Affairs and funded by the Norwegian Agency for Development (NORAD) took place at the Ministry of Women Affairs Hall at around 11:00am.

In her address, Utibe-Abasi expressed her happiness to have been part of the development of the State Action Plan since 2022 through all the consultative dialogues.

She admonished participants that violence against women and girls is not abstract but a situation that happens on a daily basis and is deeply rooted in gender inequalities and power imbalances.

Utibe-Abasi emphasized the need for concrete steps to be taken towards issues of VAWG, hence the development of the state action plan.

She said that the Cross River State Action Plan (CRSAP) on Preventing and Responding to Violence Against Women and Girls was developed in collaboration with critical stakeholders from the various ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) and civil society organizations (CSOs) to support the state’s efforts in ending violence against women and girls.

The CRSAP represents stakeholders’ commitment to promote a conducive environment for women and girls free from violence and the threat of violence, but more importantly, where survivors of gender-based violence can be supported and empowered to seek redress. Utibe-Abasi led the participants to read through the SAP and make their inputs.

The meeting was attended by the following stakeholders: Ministry of Women Affairs, Child Protection Unit, GBV Center, State Planning Commission, Basic Rights Counsel Initiative, International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Girls\’ Power Initiative, GADA, ECEWS,CUSO, CCRN, CEEF Ministry of Budget, and other key stakeholders.