FIDA Nigeria urges traditional rulers to prioritise GBV survivors’ welfare

From Jude Dangwam, Jos

The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria has called on traditional rulers in Plateau State to prioritize survivors in the handling of gender-based violence (GBV) cases at the grassroots level.

Speaking at the second annual Dialogue with Traditional Leaders on GBV and other Harmful Practices Prevention, held on Wednesday at the Millennium International Conference Centre in Jos, FIDA Country Vice President and National President, Eliana Martins, stressed the importance of context-specific solutions tailored to local communities.

Martins, through the FIDA Plateau State Chairperson, Barr. Nankus Fyaktu, urged traditional leaders to balance the punishment of perpetrators with adequate support for survivors. “While pursuing punishment for perpetrators, we must not abandon the victim. There should be clear measures to ensure survivors are properly supported,” she said.

FIDA expressed concerns over the implementation gaps in the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, which provides for victim compensation but has faced challenges in execution. The organisation further called on the state government to ensure that perpetrators contribute to the support and rehabilitation of victims. The Senior Programme Manager of FIDA Nigeria, Mr. Fiki Obaro, highlighted the organisation’s continued advocacy for laws that uphold accountability while prioritising survivor welfare. He noted, “We need survivor-centred laws; many Nigerian laws are not survivor-centred and are not necessarily gender-responsive.”

The dialogue aimed to strengthen community protection systems and improve case management approaches for GBV incidents, emphasising that empowering survivors is key to addressing the growing menace of gender-based violence in Plateau State.