By Zakari Haruna
The Federation of Women Lawyers In Nigeria, (FIDA) has declared a State of Emergency on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in Kaduna State.
The State Chairperson, Aisha Abdu who stated this during a One-Day Sensitization Workshop on addressing harmful cultural norms and practices that promote Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) put together by FIDA in collaboration with International Alerts Nigeria.
She noted that FIDA would henceforth, they would sensitize men more than women and hope to bring down the SGBV prevalence to the bearest minimum.
“So, we believe that all hands must be on deck to fight the menace of SGBV in our society. In fact, we are declaring a state of emergency on the violence against Women and girls”.
She said despite many organisations and NGOs in the fight against SGBV it seems the results that are getting are minimal. “The reason is not far-fetched, the perpetrators are not sensitized enough, Our women and girls are the main focus for sensitization always, leaving behind the men who are mostly, the perpetrators and we not saying that some female gender is not involved in this but the ratio compared to the men are negligible. So this propels the meeting of today”.
In a goodwill message, an official of the National Human Rights Commission, Dr Terngu Gwar described Sexual and Gender-Based Violence as a development issue rather than to be seen as a social problem.
“SGBV as I always say, is not a social problem only, it is a major development problem. SGBV affects our GDP because it affects the economic activities of women and also impacts negatively on the country’s domestic product”.
“It is maybe we don’t look at it in that perspective, it is maybe that’s why our responses are not as strong as desired as all had desired”.
Dr. Gwar said the workshop was strategic and a pointer that the stakeholders are willing to take divisive steps to reduce or curtail this menace.
“At the Human Rights Commission which is the apex human rights institution in our country, Nigeria we have been partnering with FIDA, Ministry Of Human Services and Social Development, Kaduna State, (MHSSD) and other agencies have been supportive, since it is not an affair for only one person”.
Also, the Representative of Honourable Commissioner MHSSD, Hajiya Rabi Salisu, the Director of Gender in the Ministry, Mrs. Sa’adatu appreciated all state and non-state actors working around SGBV in the state.
“As you know GBV is a pathetic problem with global dimensions hence everybody must take it as his personal issue so that it can be addressed at all levels”.
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