By Mustapha Salisu
An NGO, Kasham Girls, Women, and Youth Development Initiative, has called on the Kano State Government to expedite the implementation and domestication of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act to effectively address Gender-Based Violence (GBV) issues.
PRIME TIME NEWS reports, the organization emphasized the need not only for implementation but also for a review of penalties for GBV offenses to ensure they adequately reflect the impact of such acts on survivors.
The Executive Director of Kasham, Dinatu Dama Maji, made this appeal today during a press briefing and stakeholders’ engagement held in commemoration of the annual 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence in Kano
This year’s theme, “UNITE! Activism to End Violence Against Women and Girls,” highlights the importance of collective efforts from individuals, organizations, and communities in addressing violence against women and girls.
According to Dinatu, strategies like community-led initiatives, multi-stakeholder partnerships, social media campaigns, advocacy, and policy reform are essential pathways to achieving meaningful progress in the fight against GBV.
She also revealed that from January to October 2024, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) recorded over 100 GBV cases in Kano State.
“While KASHAM alone referred over five cases, which were uploaded to the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs’ Gender-Based Violence Database” Dinatu revealed.
In light of these figures, Dinatu called for immediate action to raise awareness in homes, schools, communities, and places of worship.
She equally urged the media to diligently follow up on GBV cases to ensure justice for survivors while calling on Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to collaborate and provide sustainable, accountable interventions.
“GBV is a societal issue that demands collective responsibility,” Dinatu said, urging all stakeholders to unite and act decisively.