The Human Rights and Conflict Resolution Centre (HRCRC), Abakaliki has recorded about 54 cases of Gender Based Violence (GBV) and other forms of disputes between January and April.
Mr George Etameso, the Director HRCRC, gave the figure in an interview with our correspondent in Abakaliki on Friday.
Etameso said that the cases registered include family disputes, domestic violence, children custody, human rights abuses, family and communal land disputes as well as forced marriages.
According to him, some cases are still ongoing, others pending, or undergoing stages of mediation, while we have so far gotten two court judgments within the period.
He said that the organisation had collaborated with Cardinal Onaiyekan’s Foundation for Peace, partnered with various community leaders and other stakeholders to intervene in some conflict areas of the state.
The HRCRC director further said that a psychologist would visit the centre to handle trauma cases from GBV.
He said that the expert would offer counseling and therapy, especially for survivors who had suffered sexual, physical and other forms of abuses.
He described trauma as a severe shock and upsetting experience which may cause psychological damage.
“Any trauma case that is not properly handled becomes more traumatic, and impacts negatively on victims and the society,’’ he said.
Etameso advised the general public to take advantage of the free exercise and refer such cases to the centre to reduce possible negative impact on the society.
“Most GBV cases end up being traumatic from one level to another,’’ the director said.
He said that the centre offered holistic interventions that ensure healing, hence it was important to sought for mental help. (