The UN Trust Fund in collaboration with the Tabitha Cumi Foundation (TCF), has partnered to offer a toll-free helpline to report Gender Based Violence (GBV) and improve the virtual management of cases in Nigeria.
The Executive Director, of TCF, Mrs Tayo Erinle during the project dissemination and closeout event of the Flashlight Actions on Girls Safety (FLAGS) project on Tuesday in Abuja said the GBV helpline would assist in ending GBV and ensuring justice for survivors.
“The GBV free toll helpline that were disseminated today keeps FLAGS project flying because even though FLAGS is closing out GBV has not ended.
“So to keep it flying, we have got this toll free line supported by the UNTrust Fund for people to reach us, flag up cases, set up virtual management and increase stakeholders that we have been working with.
“This will help us manage cases at one sitting to avoid re-traumatisation of the survivor and be able to proffer next steps to take,” she said.
According to her, in the past three years, the project has supported 750 girls in 10 communities within Nasarawa, Niger and the FCT.
“We have been able to build the capacity of 750 girls in 30 safe spaces in Nasarawa, Niger and FCT to prevent, respond and refer GBV cases.
“The girls are more aware, they are confident and know that anyone can be a perpetrator and know what to do and where to go if they are violated or know someone who has been violated.”
According to her, the major outcome of the project was virtual case management, which is a girl-centred multi-sectoral approach to GBV.
“We have been able to meet and handle 162 cases, two are in courts, two are in shelter, some are going through psychosocial support,” she said.
The UN Women’s Country Representative to Nigeria, Ms Beatrice Eyong commended TCF for the successes recorded in implementing the FLAGS project and reducing GBV in the country.
Eyong, represented by the Programme Officer for Women’s Economic Empowerment, Patience Ekechukwu noted that despite existing legal frameworks and policies, GBV and harmful traditional practices against women and girls still exist.
“Ending violence against women and girls that is why we are gathered here to look at issues and solutions and what we can do to ensure that women and girls in Nigeria live free from violence.
“UN Women is committed to working with government agencies, CSOs, traditional and religious organisations to prevent the violence that affects millions of women around the world.
“We all have critical role to play in ending violence against women and girls. We must speak out against harassment, violence in our work places, various religious platforms, through the media.
“We need to lend our voices to be heard to ensure that the world is free from violence against women and girls,” she said.
Other highlights of the event were the presentation of excellence awards to notable persons and communities for their supports in ensuring the success of the FLAGS project.
Others include fireside chats with project beneficiaries and stakeholders, as well as the launch of the TCF GBV Helpline, 0800 0040 404.
By Justina Auta
