The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other stakeholders have urged the Benue State Government to strengthen its response to gender-based violence (GBV) through effective standard operating procedures (SOPs) and referral pathways.
They made the call at a five-day workshop to develop and validate the state’s SOPs and referral pathways for responding to sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV).
Victor Atuchukwu, a child protection specialist with UNICEF Nigeria, said the workshop brought together government ministries, law enforcement agencies, health workers, social welfare officials, civil society organisations and development partners to establish a common framework for supporting survivors.
He said the initiative’s success would depend on both developing the documents and ensuring their effective implementation by relevant institutions.
“This is the time to put aside our traditional barriers and ensure that survivors receive the response services they deserve and that perpetrators are brought to justice,” he said.
Atuchukwu said the expected outcomes included state-level SOPs for responding to SGBV, referral pathways and a directory of service providers. He expressed optimism that the documents would be ready by Friday.
Evelyn Katono, UNHCR head of field office in Benue, stressed the need for a coordinated, timely and survivor-centred approach that ensured access to safe, confidential and quality services.
She urged participants to identify gaps, clarify referral mechanisms and develop practical solutions to improve service delivery. She also commended government institutions, humanitarian partners and civil society organisations for protecting vulnerable groups affected by displacement, conflict and humanitarian challenges.
Mimidoo Williams-Uhundu, executive director of Spring of Hope Nigeria and general secretary of the Benue NGO Network (BENGONET), called for an accessible and harmonised response system to ensure survivors received support regardless of their location.
She said existing GBV response mechanisms remained fragmented and that comprehensive SOPs would help harmonise interventions, clarify responsibilities and improve access to support services.
“The truth is that if our efforts do not reach the girl in Gwer, the girl in Guma, or any boy, woman, or man in other communities across Benue State who need support, then our efforts will not achieve their intended purpose,” she said.
Williams-Uhundu stressed the need to integrate the proposed strategies into government structures to ensure continuity beyond the duration of development partners’ interventions.
“Ultimately, whatever innovations, strategies, or initiatives we introduce must be institutionalised within government structures to ensure their sustainability,” she said.
She reaffirmed civil society organisations’ commitment to working with government institutions and development partners to strengthen protection for survivors.
Leonard Viashima, director-general of the Benue State Bureau for International Cooperation and Development (BICD), urged development partners to align their interventions with the state government’s priorities.
He expressed concern that donor expectations developed outside the state’s priorities could negatively affect its development efforts.
“As we design and validate the SOPs and referral pathways, let us put government at the centre of it all. Government interest must be protected,” he said.
Viashima also urged civil society organisations to support local implementation of the SOPs after international partners completed their assignments.
