By Zainab Oyekan
Plateau Gender and Equal Opportunities Commission has urged religious leaders to strengthen efforts against gender-based violence through counselling, mediation, and timely referrals, to protect vulnerable persons.
Mrs Olivia Dazyam, the Chairperson of the commission, made the call dhring the opening of training for Religious Mediation Counsellors in Jos on Thursday.
Dazyam said the programme aimed to equip faith leaders with practical skills in gender sensitisation, gender equality, mediation, survivor-centred counselling, ethical practices, confidentiality, and referral mechanisms nationwide.
According to her, government institutions alone cannot effectively tackle gender-based violence because churches and mosques remain trusted first points where survivors often seek guidance and support.
She said participants should identify abuse early, provide appropriate counselling, promote peaceful mediation without endangering victims, and connect survivors with relevant agencies for comprehensive and prompt assistance.
The chairperson stressed that trained religious counsellors should restore broken homes, protect children, support survivors, discourage harmful cultural practices, and strengthen peaceful coexistence across Plateau communities through collaboration.
She urged participants to embrace knowledge, challenge discriminatory beliefs, encourage justice, mutual respect, accountability, and forgiveness, while promoting values fostering dignity, equality, peaceful families, and resilient communities.
She reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to partnership with religious institutions, expressing optimism that sustained collaboration would reduce violence, protect vulnerable persons, strengthen families, and promote lasting peace across Plateau.
According to Dr Gad Shamaki, a facilitator, gender sensitivity promotes fairness, respect, and equal opportunities, urging religious leaders to challenge harmful stereotypes while protecting the dignity and rights of everyone.
Shamaki said culture should preserve positive values and strengthen families while discouraging harmful practices that encourage discrimination, stressing that education remained essential for promoting equality and preventing violence.
He urged participants to provide gender-sensitive counselling, maintain confidentiality, make appropriate referrals, and promote peaceful coexistence, adding that collective action would strengthen families and protect vulnerable persons.
Also speaking, Mrs Kiyenpiya Mafuyei, Plateau Coordinator of the National Human Rights Commission, said mediation counsellors played vital roles in resolving disputes peacefully, protecting human rights and preventing conflicts from escalating into violence within communities.
According to Mafuyei, counsellors should remain impartial, uphold confidentiality, respect victims’ rights, and ensure mediation never compromises justice or exposes survivors to further abuse or intimidation.
Mrs Lantana Bako, Cordinator Women for Positive Peace Initiative, an NGO, urged participants to recognise the devastating implications of gender-based violence, support survivors compassionately, report abuse promptly and promote preventive measures within their communities.
Some of the participants who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), expressed appreciation for the training by the commission.
Mrs Gana Igele said the training broadened her understanding of gender sensitivity, urging participants to apply mediation skills, identify abuse early, and support survivors with compassion and confidentiality.
Mrs Aisha Noah said she had gained practical knowledge on gender equality, ethical counselling, and referral pathways, pledging to educate families and promote peaceful conflict resolution within communities.
Pastor Jerry Onyibe described the training as timely, saying it strengthened his capacity to counsel families, prevent gender-based violence, and collaborate with relevant agencies to protect vulnerable persons. NAN
