Di United Nations Development Programme, wey dem dey call UNDP, don call for stronger integration of Gender-Based Violence and Intimate Partner Violence interventions into Nigeria health and development programme as di country dey prepare im Global Fund Grant Cycle 8 funding request.
Di call come on Thursday at di National Consultative Workshop on Gender Equality, Gender-Based Violence and Intimate Partner Violence Programming wey dem hold for Transcorp Hilton Hotel for Abuja.
UNDP Gender Lead, Onyinye Belinda Ndubuisi, wey speak for di workshop, tok say di consultation na to create multi-sectoral platform wey go bring together di Federal Ministries of Health, Justice and Women Affairs, plus National Human Rights Commission, development partners and civil society organisations, to develop coordinated responses to IPV and GBV.
According to am, violence against women and girls still dey affect access to critical health services, including HIV testing, treatment and care.
She tok say, “Dis workshop no be just sit-and-go meeting. Na opportunity to reflect on how we fit begin to programme effectively around intimate partner violence, identify gaps, strengthen coordination mechanisms and ensure say gender-based violence interventions dey adequately reflected for Nigeria Global Fund Grant Cycle 8 funding request.”
Ndubuisi stress say UNDP and im partners dey advocate for practical and measurable gender interventions wey go beyond awareness creation to include survivor support, economic empowerment, behavioural change initiatives and improved access to services.
Earlier, di Director of Public Prosecutions of di Federation, Oyedepo Iseoluwa Rotimi, wey be SAN, deliver di welcome address on behalf of di Attorney-General of di Federation and Minister of Justice. E highlight di strong links between gender-based violence, human rights violations and public health outcomes.
Rotimi tok say stigma, discrimination, breaches of confidentiality and fear of arrest still dey prevent vulnerable populations from accessing healthcare services. E also raise concern about di health conditions of persons for correctional facilities, survivors of human trafficking and victims of gender-based violence, noting say legal and institutional barriers often worsen health outcomes.
Di DPP call for stronger integration of GBV screening and support services into HIV and tuberculosis programmes, expansion of health and legal services for correctional facilities, improved referral systems for trafficking survivors and increased financing for gender-responsive interventions under di GC8 framework.
Also speaking, Country Director of di Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS for Nigeria, Ms. Krittayawan Boonto, describe gender-based violence as persistent challenge wey still dey affect millions globally despite existing legal protections. While e acknowledge Nigeria progress through laws like di Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act and di Child Rights Act, e note say enforcement remain inconsistent.
Boonto express concern over di high number of GBV cases wey dem report for di country between January and April 2026, noting say many incidents still dey unreported. E urge stakeholders to ensure say GBV and IPV interventions dey clearly defined, adequately funded and backed by measurable targets within di Global Fund GC8 proposal.
E tok say, “We dey here to make di money work. If dese interventions no dey clearly programmed with indicators, targets and accountability mechanisms, dem risk remaining vague aspirations.”
Also di Head of HIV for di Global Fund, Dr Izukanji Sikazwe, reaffirm dia commitment to support Nigeria efforts to address di structural drivers of HIV transmission. According to di Fund, gender-based violence and intimate partner violence remain significant barriers to achieving HIV epidemic control because dem dey discourage individuals from accessing prevention, testing and treatment services.
Di organisation say dem dey work with di Federal Government, state institutions and community groups to identify strategic investments wey go reduce GBV and IPV while improving access to HIV, tuberculosis and malaria services.
Di Global Fund commend di Nigerian government for taking di lead for addressing di issue through legal reforms and operational frameworks, while also express concern over reports say many cases of violence dey perpetrated by family members, acquaintances and individuals within trusted institutions.
Participants for di consultation dey expected to develop recommendations wey go inform Nigeria GC8 funding request and strengthen coordinated pathways for preventing and responding to gender-based violence and intimate partner violence.
Di workshop bring together representatives of government ministries, di United Nations system, di Global Fund, civil society organisations, women and youth groups, academia, human rights advocates and technical experts wey dey committed to advancing gender equality and protecting vulnerable populations for Nigeria.
