The Plateau State Gender and Equal Opportunities Commission (PLASGEOC) has trained religious mediation counsellors on sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), with a call for stronger faith-based support systems, early reporting and appropriate referral of criminal cases to relevant authorities.
The training, held on Thursday, July 2, 2026, at the Community and Social Development Agency Hall along Rayfield Road in Jos, brought together religious leaders, counsellors and other stakeholders with the theme; strengthening the capacity of religious counselors in mediation and gender based violence prevention and response.
Chairperson of PLASGEOC, Barrister Olivia Dazyam, said the initiative was designed to strengthen the capacity of religious institutions to identify, counsel, mediate where appropriate and refer cases of sexual and gender-based violence to the relevant authorities.
Dazyam said the commission, with the support of Governor Caleb Mutfwang, recognised the important role religious organisations play as the closest institutions to many communities.
According to her, many victims and families first approach religious leaders and counsellors when faced with issues of domestic violence, child abuse, sexual violence, family disputes, female disinheritance, human trafficking and other forms of human rights violations.
She explained that the training would help religious leaders understand the limits of mediation, particularly in cases involving criminal offences.
“Religious leaders are often the first point of contact for people facing difficult situations. It is important that they have the skills to provide proper counselling, identify criminal tendencies and refer cases that require the intervention of law enforcement agencies and other relevant authorities,” Dazyam said.
The PLASGEOC chairperson also called on religious organisations to establish counselling and mediation units in local assemblies and worship centres, rather than limiting such services to their headquarters.
She said decentralising counselling services would make support more accessible to people in rural and underserved communities across the state.
Dazyam stressed that sexual and gender-based violence prevents survivors from fully participating in social and economic development, noting that stronger collaboration between government, religious bodies, the media and communities would help change the narrative.
Speaking on the role of mediation counsellors, the Plateau State Coordinator of the National Human Rights Commission, Barrister Kiyenpiya Mafuyei, said mediation remains a useful tool for religious leaders but must be applied carefully and within the limits of the law.
Mafuyei said the training was aimed at equipping participants with practical mediation skills to better handle complaints brought before them, especially as religious leaders are often among the first people survivors approach.
She cautioned that cases involving crimes should not be handled solely through mediation, stressing that religious leaders must know when to refer survivors and complaints to law enforcement agencies, human rights institutions and other service providers.
Earlier, the Director of PLASGEOC, Grace Pam Chuwang, described sexual and gender-based violence as a serious challenge with lasting physical, emotional, psychological, social and economic consequences for survivors.
She said addressing the problem requires collective action involving faith-based organisations, traditional institutions, civil society groups and communities.
Chuwang noted that religious counsellors occupy a unique position of trust and influence, making their role in supporting survivors, promoting healthy relationships, encouraging reconciliation where appropriate and making timely referrals invaluable.
She urged participants to actively engage in the training and use the knowledge gained to become stronger advocates for peace, justice and the prevention of SGBV in their communities.
Other resource persons at the training included Dr. Gad Shamaki, who spoke on the basic concepts of gender, and Hajiya Lantana Bako, Coordinator of WOPPI, who delivered a lecture on the implications of sexual and gender-based violence.
