Gender-Based Violence (GBV) continues to be a deeply entrenched and pervasive issue across Nigeria, with rural communities facing the most severe impacts due to a combination of limited access to justice, entrenched patriarchal systems, and harmful traditional practices (HTPs). Despite existing legal protections and increased awareness in urban areas, women and girls in rural settings remain disproportionately vulnerable to physical, sexual, and psychological abuse. In Enugu State, these challenges are compounded by cultural norms that reinforce male dominance and normalize violence against women.

To address this crisis, South Saharan Social Development Organisation (SSDO) is launching the Community Partnership for the Elimination of Gender-Based Violence (COMPEG) a transformative initiative that seeks to build women’s agency, mobilize grassroots leadership, and reform community norms from within. COMPEG builds on the successes of SSDO’s Sister Guardian Initiative (SGI) by empowering women as community-based advocates and change agents who will work alongside traditional institutions, youth, and local stakeholders to challenge harmful practices and advocate for inclusive, equitable systems. Through community-driven action, policy engagement, and the establishment of supportive structures, COMPEG aims to foster a sustainable, locally-owned movement to eliminate GBV and promote gender justice across rural communities in Enugu State and beyond.