As part of its Project Hope, supported by the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women (UNTF), the Centre for Women’s Health and Information (CEWHIN) organized a learning visit to the Cece Yara Child Advocacy Centre in Lagos. The visit was a key activity in CEWHIN’s ongoing efforts to strengthen stakeholder collaboration and improve Gender-Based Violence (GBV) response systems in Osun State.
The learning visit brought together representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and government stakeholders from the Ministry of Women and Social Affairs, Ministry of Health, and Ministry of Justice in Osun State. This multi-sectoral delegation reflected CEWHIN’s commitment to fostering collaboration across sectors to build a more effective and survivor-centered response to violence against women and girls.
At Cece Yara, participants gained first-hand insights into the child-centered and survivor-focused approach the Centre employs in addressing sexual and gender-based violence. They observed how a coordinated, multi-disciplinary system combining medical, psychosocial, legal, and law enforcement support can provide holistic services to survivors while reducing the risk of secondary trauma.
As a part of this learning visit, the Cece Yara team took the delegates on a tour of their facility sharing insights into practical strategies that can be adapted to Osun State’s context, investigation tactics and approaches for supporting survivors of trauma..
This learning visit marks a vital step in the Project Hope journey, reinforcing the power of collaboration in the fight against violence against women and girls with disabilities. Speaking on the significance of the visit, Atinuke Odukoya emphasized that peer learning and exposure to successful models are crucial in equipping stakeholders to strengthen systems back home. By bringing together government and civil society actors, CEWHIN is laying the foundation for a more coordinated and sustainable GBV response structure in Osun State.