by Josiah Egbilika
The Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development (CEHRD), in collaboration with the Rivers State Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation on Friday September 11, 2026 organised a fact finding workshop in response to Gender Based Violence in Rivers State.
The purpose of the workshop was to understand the roles key Stakeholders play towards ending GBV in the State.
The initiative aims to develop a State Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to strengthen coordination and response to Gender-Based Violence (GBV) across the State.
Speaking during the event, the Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Lauretta Davies-Dimkpa, explained that the SOP would clearly define the roles of relevant ministries and other key stakeholders so as to eliminate duplication of efforts and ensure that survivors receive timely and appropriate support.
Davies-Dimkpa called for greater synergy among stakeholders, stressing that efforts to combat GBV would be more effective if all relevant institutions worked towards a common goal.
Also speaking, Project Lead of CEHRD, Josiah Egbilika, explained that the fact-finding exercise was designed to map out the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders, identify gaps in existing interventions, and promote stronger collaboration towards preventing and responding to GBV in Rivers State.
Egbilika said information gathered would form the basis for drafting the Rivers State SOP, which would later undergo technical review and validation by relevant institutions.
According to him, the validation process would determine whether the roles being performed by various institutions fall within their mandates.
The CEHRD Project Lead expressed optimism that the process would culminate in the launch of the Rivers State Standard Operating Procedure for the Prevention and Response to Gender-Based Violence.
The meeting brought together representatives of the ministries of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Health, Justice, Women Affairs and Education.
Others included: Police, Nigeria Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking In Persons (NAPTIP), Nigeria Security Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, Christian Association of Nigeria.
Also in attendance were: Gender And Development Action (GADA), International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Rivers State Response Team Against Violence on Women and Children, Rivers State Agency for Control of AIDS, Rhema Care Integrated Developmental Centre, Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) and the Media.
The meeting ended with a renewed commitment by stakeholders to strengthen collaboration and work towards a coordinated response to Gender-Based Violence across Rivers State.
The project is an initiative of CEHRD with supporting funding from Rise Up Together.
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