By: Vitalis Ugoh, Calabar
A 3-day Zonal Meetings on building VAWG Preventive Pathways was held with Community-based groups, partners and volunteers in Calabar, Cross River state.
The meeting was attended by Community based groups, partners and volunteers drawn from the academia, civil society, religious organizations and the media.
The meeting had its objective as “Scale up the Women of Resilience initiative in six new states as well as strengthening existing efforts in four states to organically protect women and girls from Violence Against Women and Girls with support from faith and culture leaders”.
Declaring the meeting open, WRAPA state coordinator, Ekanem Bassey welcomed participants to the all important event.
There was a presentation of background information on WRAPA initiatives and the context of VAWG in Nigeria by WRAPA representative Abuja on the success stories on women of Resilience in Jigawa, Federal capital territory, Katsina and Plateau states.
Thematic discussions by each state on Community Needs Assessment, stakeholders engagement, plan capacity building, safe spaces establishment, advocacy Awareness and monitoring and Evaluation among others.
The meeting supported by Ford Foundation, decries women’s rights, especially within vulnerable communities, numerous challenges persists, from socio-economic disparities to deeply ingrained cultural and religious barriers.
A document made available said “WRAPA, has been unwavering in its commitment to establishing safe havens where women can access crucial support, resources and pathways to Empowerment and protection from violence against women and girls (VAWG)”.
“In 2020, WRAPA initiated a ground breaking project, supported by the Ford Foundation, titled “Violence Against Women and Girls, Faith and Culture Leaders supporting VAWG Accountability”, across FCT, Jigawa, Katsina and Plateau states.”

“This initiative was aimed not only to address symptoms but to tackle the root causes of VAWG by engaging faith and cultural leaders in fostering accountability and advocating for the rights of women and girls”.
“The outcome of that endeavor was the emergence of the grassroots movement, “The Women of Resilience” in FCT, Jigawa, Katsina and Plateau.”
“This movement comprised of survivors who have endured various forms of violence, has emerged as a powerful force in combating VAWG through resilience and unwavering advocacy.”
It said today, “communities often trust local leadership, including faith and cultural leaders, making them pivotal allies in addressing VAWG, scarcity of Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) in communities, coupled with logistical challenges, underscores the necessary of localized support systems.”
The expected outcome includes, “enhanced protection and support services for VAWG survivors in targeted states, heightened awareness and understanding of women’s rights and gender equality issues particularly in the context of combating VAWG, strengthened community networks and collaborations to effectively address and prevent gender-based violence, focussing on survivor support and perpetrator accountability and empowered women acting as catalysts for positive change within their communities, fostering collective action to eradicate VAWG and promote a culture of respect and dignity for all”.

Other grant funded projects implemented by WRAPA between 2006 to date include, 2006-2020 Islamic Family Law in North West Nigeria, 2015-2017: Promoting Safety and Security for the girl child in the Northwest, 2016-2017: Haki Mkononi, 2018-2020: Gender And Accountability project, 2019-2021: Spotlight initiative projects.
Others are 2019-2020: Advancing Women’s Legal Rights, 2020-2022: Strengthening Women and Girls’ capacity to demand accountability, 2021-2023: legal and social empowerment program, 2021-2022: Recovery and Resilience project and 2021-2024: improving electoral integrity and accountability.
WRAPA, the document added values collaborations and had formed partnerships with various institutions and networks. Among them is the Legislative Advocacy Coalition on Violence Against Women (LACVAW).
“In addition, WRAPA coordinates the improved Electoral integrity Accountability (IEIA) project where we coordinate Frontline National Civil Societies, state level CSO, CBOs NGOs, national and sub national departments and agencies. The project aims at improving women’s participation in politics and leadership positions”.
“Under the spotlight initiative phase 11, WRAPA has adopted the Ten Pillar partner (TPP) model. WRAPA intends to use a portion of the granted institutional strengthening support. This model has been tested with 30 women CSO networks in Adamawa, Sokoto and FCT and can now be replicated and scaled, the document added”.
Participants were satisfied with all the presentations during the three day meeting and resolved to work with WRAPA to find lasting solutions to Violence Against Women and Girls'(VAWG).