A PRESS RELEASE BY THE SOUTH-SOUTH SGBV INFO HUB IN COMMEMORATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2025
ACCELERATED ACTION FOR ALL WOMEN AND GIRLS; RIGHTS, EQUALITY, AND EMPOWERMENT AMID REGIONAL CHALLENGES
March 8th, 2025.
In observance of International Women’s Day 2025, the South-South Sexual and Gender Based Violence Prevention Info Hub (SGBV Info Hub) proudly joins the global call to action under the theme, “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.” Marking the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, this theme underscores the urgent need to secure equal rights, dismantle systemic barriers, and empower women and girls. These goals resonate with the SGBV Info Hub’s mission to reduce Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in Nigeria’s South-South region.
The SGBV Info Hub is an innovative online platform, that fosters learning, networking, and knowledge exchange among Civil Society Organisations, NGOs, Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies, Academia, and individuals dedicated to ending SGBV in Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River States. These states, collectively the oil-rich Niger Delta, face unique SGBV challenges shaped by oil-related conflicts, widespread cultism, economic deprivation, and patriarchal norms. In Rivers and Bayelsa, cult clashes and militancy exacerbate sexual violence, often targeting women and girls in volatile communities. Delta and Edo contend with trafficking and sexual exploitation linked to economic hardship and migration pressures, while Akwa Ibom and Cross River report heightened domestic violence and harmful traditional practices. These peculiarities highlight the need for a contextual consensus on strategies to address SGBV effectively across the region.
Aligned with the IWD 2025 theme of "Accelerated Action," the SGBV Info Hub is intensifying efforts to advance women’s and girls’ rights by tackling violence as a barrier to equality, promoting gender equity through collaborative advocacy, and empowering survivors and stakeholders with tools to foster safer communities. To accelerate action across the South-South States, the SGBV Info Hub is committed to:
Rapid Deployment of Digital Tools: Expanding its online platform to provide real-time resources, training modules, and reporting mechanisms, enabling stakeholders in all six states to respond swiftly to SGBV cases.
Targeted Awareness Campaigns: Launching state-specific campaigns that address local drivers of SGBV such as cultism in Rivers and Bayelsa or trafficking in Edo and Delta and develop impactful messaging to shift attitudes and behaviors across the board.
Strengthening Partnerships: Facilitating rapid collaboration between state governments, CSOs, and community leaders to fast-track policy implementation and survivor support services across the region.
Data and research driven Interventions: Leveraging research and data collected through the platform to identify SGBV hotspots and deploy resources efficiently, ensuring accelerated responses where they are needed most.
Capacity Building: Training programs for local advocates and SGBV Networks, to enhance their ability to effectively advocate for improved SGBV response and prevention interventions in the region.
The diverse drivers of SGBV in the region demand tailored, collective actions, and the SGBV Info Hub thrives on the expertise of state and non-state actors working together to hasten progress against SGBV.
This International Women’s Day, we celebrate survivors’ resilience and the potential strength of the SGBV Info Hub as we work toward a future where rights, equality, and empowerment prevail for all.”
Join us on March 8, 2025, to honor progress, forge partnerships, and intensify the fight against SGBV. To learn more about the SGBV Info Hub, visit: https://www.gada-nigeria.org/news-events
Signed
Inyingi Irimagha
Moderator, the South-South SGBV Info Hub