Sokoto Flags Off 16 Days Of Activism Against GBV
BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto
The Sokoto State Ministry of Women and Children Affairs with support from EU-UN Spotlight Initiative commenced one day sensitization meeting with 100 women right group and civil society organizations on prevention, response and ending all forms of Gender Based Violence (GBV) in the state.
Addressing participants in her opening remarks, Sokoto state commissioner of Women and Children Affairs, Hon Kulu Sifawa said prevalence of GBV must be addressed by all stakeholders.
According to her, she is particularly happy that the 16 days of activism were set aside to draw not only attention but also find a way of ending the menace of GBV.
While reflecting on the theme of this year’s activism, “Unite Activism To End Violence Against Women and Girls”, the commissioner appealed to all stakeholders not to be detererd in the struggle towards ensuring a safe society for all.
Giving objective of the meeting, one of the directors, Sokoto State Ministry of Women as Children Affairs, Habiba Ahmed said in unity of purpose they will end GBV.
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Recalling the overview of the struggle on protection of vulnersbles in Sokoto, the Permanent Secretary of the Women Affairs ministry Brrister Aisha Mohammed Dantsoho said, they started with the gender policy drive in 2017, then to Gender Mainstreaming and Gender Budgeting.
Continuing, the Perm Sec said, after the berthing of GBV in Sokoto, they strive further to ensure that all gender are covered in Sokoto. “This was followed by the encouragement for all to speak and halt the culture of silence to the signing into law of Child Protection law (CPL) and Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP).
While noting that they had the full support of the state government and religious as well as traditional leaders, The Perm Sec said so far they have recorded no fewer then 1200 survivors of GBV in the state.
As part of their strategies to end the menace, Aisha Dantsoho said there are presently surveillance team in 14 of the 23 local government areas of the state in addition to the Response Team.
Wondering how some persons try to justify their unacceptable action on indecent dressings, Barrister Aisha said perpetrators of rape are simply mentally unstable, hence peodophiles defile minors that do not have anything seducive.
In her appeal to stakeholders, the Perm Sec said, they must not allow cases of GBV to die until Justice is seen to have been done.
Participants at the one day meeting included, traditional leaders, members of various civil society organizations amongst others.
Sokoto Flags Off 16 Days Of Activism Against GBV
