Stakeholders have warned that existing laws alone are insufficient to protect women from gender-based violence (GBV) and torture, calling for stronger implementation, adequate funding and accountability to ensure survivors can access justice and support.

They made the call in a communique issued after a virtual national dialogue on “Preventing Gender-Based Violence and Torture Against Women” held on Wednesday.

The dialogue was organised by Legend Golden Care Foundation (LGCF), in partnership with the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), with the theme, “Closing the Protection Gap: Strengthening Prevention and Response to GBV and Torture Against Women.”

The stakeholders, comprising civil society organisations, legal practitioners, students, human rights advocates, media representatives and institutional stakeholders, said effective implementation of legal frameworks, stronger coordination among relevant agencies and accessible support services were essential to protecting vulnerable women.

In the communique signed by LGCF Project Lead, Umulkuruthum Dauda, they called for stronger institutional responses, improved cooperation among relevant agencies and wider access to legal aid and referral services for survivors.

Dauda said the foundation had commenced its project on Combating Gender-Based Violence and Torture for Rural and Incarcerated Women at the Suleja Custodial Centre in Niger State, where dignity kits were distributed to participants.

According to him, the first engagement reached 30 women at the centre through sessions on menstrual hygiene, emotional wellbeing and survivors’ rights.

He said the foundation also conducted a sensitisation outreach in Dobi community, Abuja, focusing on GBV, torture prevention and human rights.

Dauda said the engagement was designed to raise awareness and encourage community participation in preventing abuse, particularly against women whose experiences often go unheard.

He explained that the initiative seeks to prevent and respond to gender-based violence and torture while promoting the rights, dignity and protection of women in rural communities and custodial settings.

The project also aims to challenge harmful social norms that perpetuate abuse and strengthen collaboration among communities, institutions and other stakeholders to improve protection for vulnerable women.

“These activities reflect the project’s broader commitment to sustained outreach, violence prevention and improved access to protection for rural and incarcerated women,” he said.

Dauda noted that although awareness programmes helped women understand their rights and identify avenues for assistance, effective institutional responses were necessary to make those rights meaningful.

He called for the effective implementation of existing legal frameworks, adequate resources for support services and stronger accountability among institutions responsible for preventing and responding to abuse.

He said LGCF and OMCT were working to sustain attention on the experiences of rural and incarcerated women while encouraging stronger responses to gender-based violence and torture.