From Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse
A non governmental Organization, known as Gender Awareness Trust (GAT) with support from Open Society Foundation (OSF) organised a one day round table discussion with relevant stakeholders as a move to reduce gender base violences in Jigawa state.
During the discussion the causes and challenges of Gender Based Violences identified as well as the measures to address the challenges.
Speaking on Thursday at the round table discussion, held at NULGE Secretariat Dutse, the GAT team leader, Hajiya Balaraba Abdullahi said, the discussion aimed at designing a better solution to gender violences in the state.
She explained that, the Stakeholders identified poverty, spiritual purposes, carelessness of parents, ignorance and illegal use of drugs as major causes of GBV in Jigawa.
While the Stakeholders decried lack of parents or guidance support, political interference, delay in prosecution, stigmatization and lack of access to justice for victims as major challenges towards depending the victims at court.
The team leader, lauded present administration in Jigawa for increasing the number of Sexual Assault Refferal Centres (SARC) in the state, inauguration of GBV investigation committee and increase of budget for issues related to addressing Gender Based Violences.
Hajiya Balaraba Abdullahi who said the participants in the discussion include women civil society organisations, Media, representative from ministry of women affairs, Justice, budget, Hisbah board, police and other security agencies, commended them for contributing their quota towards addressing Gender Based Violences in the state.