IWD2025: We’ve Resolved 6,000 Gender-Based Violence-Related Cases in Last 2 Years – CARE Nigeria

•Empowers 64,000 Women and girls in Borno, Yobe

Kasim Sumaina in Abuja

As the 2025 International Women’s Day (IWD) is commemorated world over, CARE Nigeria International has hinted that it resolved not less than 6,000 gender-based violence-related cases in the last two years.

This was even as it disclosed that it has also empowered 64,000 women and girls in Borno and Yobe States through its Women Lead in Emergency (WLiE) Project.

CARE Nigeria, in partnership with the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO), gave the hint at a stakeholder meeting in Abuja to commemorate this year’s International Women’s Day (IWD).

Coordinator of CARE International, Wandu Zira George, speaking on the sidelines of the event, noted that the WLiE project has also led to the reduction in Gender Based Violence (GBV) and early and forced marriage in Northeastern part of the country.

Amongst many George said: “This project has increased women and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health services, access to speak to and engage with community leaders for women’s voices to be heard.

“The women identified gender-based violence, hawking, prostitution, illiteracy, and other issues as prevalent in their communities and with our assistance, we engaged in massive awareness and sensitization, as well as advocacy visits to most of the relevant stakeholders to address the challenges.

“There has also been a reduction in street hawking among young girls, which has further led to a reduction in exposure to GBV.”

She opined that the organisation engaged 600 women across the Jere community in Borno State and Potiskum in Yobe State, and they extended it to the broader community, and currently, they have reached up to 64,000 people.

“For gender-based violence cases, we make referrals to the safe space where those who are responsible for the case management are, and so far, around 6,000 GBV cases have been addressed and managed through this project,” George said.

Speaking in similar vein, Deputy Programme Manager, Humanitarian Team at the British High Commission, Bukola Obamo, stressed that WLiE is a component under the Council humanitarian protection program which focuses on empowering women to be part of the decision-making process in the humanitarian response.

Obamo noted, that the program focuses on addressing things around gender-based violence, and women have identified that GBV is an issue in their community.

She added, “Apart from that, there are issues around economic empowerment as well. But like I said, it’s a humanitarian program, and the focus is how can we provide life-saving support to these women.

“So, WLiE focuses on how the women can speak to people who are perpetrators of GBV in their communities and see how they can join forces collectively to address GBV and other concerns within their community,” she concluded.