Gender Base Violence: Zaki’s Gem support foundation trains 106 women ambassadors, decries feeding of rapists by victim’s family in Kebbi
Gender Base Violence: Zaki’s Gem support foundation trains 106 women ambassadors, decries feeding of rapists by victim’s family in Kebbi
The Zaki’s Gem Support Foundation (ZGSF), a Non- Governmental Organisations (NGO), says it has trained 106 gender based violence ambassadors as parts of its efforts to end gender- based violence in Kebbi state.
Hajiya Nafisa Abubakar Zaki, the foundation’s founder, made this known at the 2nd International Conference on Gender Based Violence (GBV) in commemoration of the 2020 16 days activism on GBV in Birnin Kebbi on Tuesday.
She said that much remained to be done in protecting victims and prosecuting offenders in spite of the legislation and ongoing efforts to protect women and vulnerable populations against violence.
Zaki added that nationally representative data on prevalence of different forms of violence could help monitor progress towards the elimination of violence against persons in the country.
“To help in eliminating the GBV, we have so far trained 106 gender based violence ambassadors, created and trained cooperation associations and participated in the advocacy to stakeholders on domestication of child rights act in the Kebbi state.
” We have rendered psychological support, referral and linkages for rape victims and conducted massive sensitisation campaigns on effects of GBV in Sokoto and Kebbi states.
“We have supported vulnerable pregnant women with free delivery kits at Sir Yahaya Memorial Hospital, Birnin Kebbi and mobilised and coordinated 43 civil society organisations in Kebbi state to support the fight against covid-19 pandemic in the state, among other activities,” she said.
Zaki, who described rapes in the society as beyond the mind of an ordinary person, said that it was becoming the order of the day.
“While the services for victims and survivors are not enough, the system is also not friendly towards them.
“Unfortunately, whenever an arrest is made of perpetrators, the victim’s family is expected to pay for their feeding via the security agency.
“This is the present practice in Kebbi and other states which is not fair,” she lamented.
The founder commended the Wife of Kebbi Gov, Dr Zainab Shinkafi – Bagudu for achieving various records towards ending GBV in the state, especially inauguration of first technical working committee group on GBV in the state.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary state Ministry for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Aisha Maikurata, revealed that the implications of covid-19 had further exposed women and children to more threatening vulnerability.
“It has given rise to other forms of GBV; and as such, it becomes expedient for us to stand for the good course and utilise all our available mechanism to protect the rights of all women in the state,” she said.
Maikurata, who was represented by Director in the ministry, Hajiya Maimuna Abdullahi, urged all the stakeholders to view the fight against GBV as emancipation movements for all women suffering the violence in the state.
Also speaking, the representative of Dr. Shinkafi Bagudu the Special Adviser to Gov. Atiku Bagudu on Women Empowerment, Hajiya Maimuna Suleiman Jega, who commended the NGO for its efforts, said,” the government is working hard to ensure women are empowered and educated, as part of effort in reducing GBV in the state.”
The theme of the conference, which was in collaboration with the Movement against Rape and Sexual Violence and Kebbi State Technical Working Group on GBV, was,” Orange the World Fund, Respond, Prevent, Collect”.
