Anti-sexual Violence Initiative Reaches Out To Abuja Community

The Anti Sexual Violence Lead Support Initiative (ASVIOL Support Initiative), a women-led organisation committed to ending sexual and gender-based violence, has concluded a three-day community outreach in Kpaduma, Abuja, as part of activities marking the 2025 Sixteen Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. The exercise was carried out in collaboration with UN Women Nigeria.

During the engagement, ASVIOL Support Initiative and UN Women sensitised residents on the different forms of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), the rights of survivors, and the importance of early reporting. Facilitators also held focused sessions with traditional leaders, women groups, youth representatives and other stakeholders, who identified the most prevalent forms of violence affecting the community. ASVIOL Support Initiatives further emphasised the crucial role of Traditional leaders in the campaign against SGBV, noting that the leaders’ allies serve as powerful advocates whose influence helps challenge harmful norms and strengthen collective action against violence.

A significant outcome of the outreach was the joint development of a community guideline outlining preventive measures and sanctions for offenders. The document, drafted with input from community stakeholders, aims to strengthen accountability and establish a locally owned framework for addressing SGBV.

On the last day of the engagement, the community guidelines were formally presented and declared by the community, Chief Yusuf Dio and other traditional leaders. These guidelines are expected to take immediate effect. The initiative, the organisers said, reflects growing community willingness to confront SGBV and create safer environments for women, girls and vulnerable groups. They emphasised that sustained awareness, collaboration, and enforcement remain critical to reducing the incidence of violence at the grassroots level.