3,168 gender -based violence cases reported in kaduna

The Salama Sexual Assault Referral Centre, Kaduna, has revealed that 3,168 Gender-based Violence (GBV) cases have been reported in Kaduna State, of which 220 were rape cases.

The centre disclosed that aside rape, other cases reported included sexual harassment, physical, emotional and economic violence among others.

The Centre’s Manager, Mrs. Grace Abbin Yohanna made the disclosure during the training of about 40 stakeholders on psychological First Aid for victims of Sexual and Gender-based Violence (SGBV) in Kaduna State, by International Alert (IA) with the support of the United Kingdom Aid, (UKaid).

The community’s first responders trained cut across the Police, Nigeria Security and Civil defense Corps (NSCDC), health workers, among others.

Yohanna said that 2,723 of the SGBV cases were assaults on females, while 445 cases were assaults on males. She added that six persons from her jurisdiction in Kafanchan Zone were prosecuted with four of them getting life imprisonment.

She said that there was the need for more collaboration and action from the Police, NSCDC and other relevant stakeholders against SGBV.

Speaking at the two-day training, the Gender Equity and Social Inclusion Officer of IA, Fatima Inusa, said that the first responders were trained to equip them with skills on how to administer psychosocial support to victims of sexual and gender-based violence.

She noted that due to improper documentation and lack of respect for data protection protocols, which entails not sharing of survivors’ information without their consent, the training became critical so that the responders can know their duty when the need arises.

She, therefore, said that the NGO also empowered women on broader scale in reducing SGBV, through providing them with accurate information as it related to their wellbeing and when abuse occurred.