The Commissioner for Women Affairs, Cross River State, Mrs. Edema Irom, has said the state recorded about 586 cases of gender-based violence between January and October, 2023. 
 
She stated this during a news conference organised to kick-start 16 days of activism against GBV at the weekend in Calabar. According to her, the figure represented only cases reported officially to the government.
   
Irom said the ministry was putting structures in place in the 18 local government areas of the state in collaboration with Non-Governmental Organisations to report GBV cases in real time to address the menace.
 
She said: “We have a Technical Working Group with members drawn from the ministry and from the NGOs to find a way around the issue. The TWG meets quarterly to review efforts put in place to address the issue.” 
   
Irom further explained that the 16-day activism is aimed at creating awareness of the menace and honouring those who fought and paid the ultimate price to end violence against women and girls the world over. 
   
Representative of the National Human Rights Commission, Mr. Remi Ajuga, said gender-based violence constituted a major plank among issues handled by the commission, adding that the journey to end the menace has started.