KADUNA – The Kaduna State Multi-Stakeholder Committee (SMIMC) marked the start of the international 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence on Tuesday with a stark warning, connecting rising insecurity to heightened risks for women and girls and calling for urgent action to strengthen the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda.
In a statement released to commemorate the day and signed by its Chairperson, Saadatu Hamma, the committee expressed "deep concern" over the persistent incidents of kidnapping, terrorism, and banditry plaguing parts of the state and the nation. These crises, the committee noted, are destabilizing communities, destroying livelihoods, and exposing vulnerable populations to severe protection risks.
The statement pointed to the recent designation of Nigeria as a “country of concern” by the United States government as evidence of the urgent need for a more robust and coordinated response.
“As insecurity intensifies, its effects on women and girls become even more pronounced,” the committee stated. The SMIMC detailed a grim list of consequences faced by women in conflict zones, including heightened risks of sexual violence, displacement, disruption of education and healthcare, and exclusion from critical peacebuilding and decision-making processes.
The committee, which operates in partnership with the CLEEN Foundation and the Royal Norwegian Embassy, is tasked with implementing the Kaduna State Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (KADSAP). It reaffirmed its commitment to several key objectives, including strengthening community early-warning systems, supporting survivors of gender-based violence, and enhancing women’s participation in security and governance.
A multi-pronged “Call to Action” was issued to various sectors of society:
· To government authorities: Intensify security operations and ensure the protection of all communities, especially those in high-risk areas.
· To security agencies: Adopt gender-sensitive approaches and ensure safe, trustworthy reporting mechanisms for victims.
· To traditional and community leaders: Actively safeguard women and girls and condemn all forms of violence.
· To civil society and the media: Continue to amplify messages of peace and provide survivor-centered advocacy.
The SMIMC’s statement concluded with a firm commitment to its core principle, asserting that sustainable peace and development are unattainable without the “full inclusion, protection, and leadership of women and girls.”
The 16 Days of Activism runs annually from November 25th, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to December 10th, Human Rights Day.
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