The Cross Rivers state Government has revealed that it handled 800 cases related to rape, domestic violence, child abuse, and other forms of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) between January and November.
The State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Edema Irom, who attributed the reports to public awareness and state-led sensitisation, disclosed that only five convictions were secured within this period.
Irom revealed this yesterday while addressing journalists in Akamkpa Local Government Area, where the United Nations (UN) women launched the 2025 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.
Speaking further, the commissioner said the ministry remains concerned that many perpetrators walk free while survivors face stigma, trauma and disruption of schooling, noting that over 100 GBV-related cases are currently before the courts.
She added that limited funding and weak logistics continue to hinder investigations, arrests and case management.
“The state government recognizes gender-based violence as a public health crisis, development challenge, and moral burden. The government is committed to working with UN Women and other partners to prevent and respond to gender-based violence,” Irom said.
“The state government is ready to collaborate with UN Women to strengthen institutions and promote community sensitization to address gender-based violence to empower the women. This is because economic empowerment of women is a key protection against exploitation and abuse”, she added.
The commissioner warned of rising abuses linked to online interactions, with at least 15 incidents traced to digital luring and “online hookups.”
She also raised concerns about exploitation in cocoa-producing areas and plantations, describing the use of minors as cheap labour as “a form of gender-based violence.”
On human trafficking, Irom urged transport operators, particularly the NURTW, to report suspicious movements of young girls at motor parks.
The commissioner commended UN Women’s support for community guidelines against harmful cultural practices, noting that Akamkpa was chosen for the briefing because the community had recently developed and enforced its own anti-GBV protocols.
She reiterated the government’s commitment to strengthening institutions, improving women’s economic empowerment and expanding advocacy, noting that the 2025 theme, “Unite to End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls,” reinforces the urgency of collective action.
In her remarks, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs, Rita Eteng said the ministry is ready to collaborate with strategic partners, work together and fight against Gender Base violence in the state.
