Women’s rights advocates and civil society organisations in Delta State have called for stronger collaboration and accelerated justice in tackling Gender-Based Violence (GBV), as stakeholders gathered in Warri to mark the 2026 International Women’s Day.
The event, convened by the founder of the Working Fingers International Initiative, Eris Jewo-Ibi, brought together a broad coalition of women-focused groups, grassroots actors, and advocacy networks committed to advancing women’s rights and empowerment.
Participants stressed the urgent need to move beyond rhetoric, urging coordinated action and institutional reforms to ensure that GBV cases are not only reported but swiftly prosecuted.
Representatives from several organisations formed a united front against GBV, including Complete Women Charity Organisation, WoFII (Forum of Vibrant Females Living with Disabilities), Interfaith Gender Justice and Advocacy Network, Vibrant Widows Forum, Adesuwa-Uadiaale Foundation, Heaps of Echoes Charity Foundation, Shegops Empowerment Initiative, Precious Family Aid Charity Foundation, Embrace Help Global Initiative, Ale Foundation, and the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Delta State Chapter, among others.
A major highlight of the programme was the strong showing by the Complete Women Charity Organisation, led by its President, Jecinta Ken-Jabin. Although she was unavoidably absent, her message was delivered by her representative, Lisa Onyinbe, who reinforced the organisation’s advocacy stance.
In her speech, Ken-Jabin underscored the theme of the 2026 celebration, “Rights, Justice, Action: For All Women and Girls,” describing it as a clear mandate for measurable outcomes rather than symbolic engagement.
She stated that the organisation’s vision is centred on building a “complete woman”, one who is socially, economically, emotionally, and mentally empowered, with full awareness of her rights and the capacity to contribute meaningfully to society.
Ken-Jabin identified persistent barriers facing women and girls, including inequality, discrimination, limited access to opportunities, and weak institutional support systems. She noted that organisations such as Complete Women Charity Organisation remain critical in bridging these gaps through mentorship, advocacy, community engagement, and leadership development initiatives.
Breaking down the theme, she explained that rights guarantee access to opportunities and safety, justice ensures fairness and representation, while action demands deliberate, sustained efforts to drive change.
She further highlighted the organisation’s holistic approach to women’s development, which integrates health, education, and economic empowerment. This includes ongoing advocacy in health awareness, HIV intervention programmes, and initiatives designed to expand educational and economic opportunities for women and girls.
She also emphasised the need to strengthen the justice system to build trust and encourage survivors of GBV to come forward, noting that meaningful progress depends on both institutional accountability and community support.
