THE NETWORK of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on Sexual Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in Zamfara has called for more collaboration among stakeholders in the fight against SGBV in the state.
The Chairperson of the network, Dr Ahmad Hashim, made the call in Gusau on Thursday at its quarterly meeting organised by Voluntary Aid Initiative (VAI), another NGO based in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was organized by the VAI in collaboration with the International Alert, an NGO being funded by the UK International Development.
“Everyone here is a key stakeholder in the fight against GBV. That is why in this meeting we have representatives from the security agencies, NGOs, CSOs, religious organizations, communities, women groups and members of the media among others.
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“We have to work together irrespective of our differences to promote peace and stability, access to justice and accountability in our society,” Hashim noted.
Hashim, who lamented what he termed “increasing cases of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in the state”, added, “We believe that strengthening and partnership coordination among all stakeholders will reduce SGBV cases in our society.
“On behalf of the network of NGOs, CSOs, CBOs in the state, we are appealing to the state government to enhance capacity building for our judges on the SGBV so that the impact will promote the fight against the ugly act.
“We have been calling on the state government to ensure full implementation of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law.
“We want full implementation of the law, as we all know the content of the law plays a significant role in the fight against GBV.
“The present administration should also establish GBV Survivors’ Trust Fund to provide financial and moral support to survivors.”
Also speaking, the Chairperson of the International Federation of Female Lawyers (FIDA), Zamfara branch, Amina Sanchi, called for more sensitization to the general public on SGBV reporting.
Sanchi assured that FIDA was ever ready to provide legal and Psycho-social support to the SGBV survivors.
Earlier, the Executive Director of VAI, Mr Musa Umar, said the meeting was part of a UK International Development funded project to promote stability, access to justice and accountability in the North West.
He noted that the VAI, with support from International Alert, succeeded in the establishment of Four Women Safe Space Centres in Birnin-Magaji and Tsafe Local Government Areas of the state.
“We also succeeded in coordinating CSOs, NGOs, CBOs towards the fight against injustice in the society.
“I believe this network will continue to link GBV survivors with medical, legal, security, psychosocial and empowerment support,” Umar said. (NAN)
