By Onuminya Innocent In Sokoto
The Minister of women affairs Dame Pauline Tallen said her ministry has received complaints of over 10726 cases of Sexual and Gender- Based Violence in recent time with Sokoto recorded 738 cases.
Tallen disclosed this on Tuesday in Sokoto at the stakeholders meeting of EU/ UN Spotlight Initiative high level monitoring, held at Dankani hotel , Sokoto State.
She lamented about the high rate of physical, psychological and emotional violence against women and children in the recent time .
She noted that the commonest form of violence and abuse reported include , rape, child marriage, wife battery , sexual harassment , sexual exploitation , prostitution , incest, negative widowhood practices , slavery and trafficking of girls.
She maintained that her ministry had embarked on different programmes of sensitization to the states governors with a view to appeal and request the domestication of the violence against persons prohibition (VAAPP) act in order to strengthen the justice system and the prosecution of the perpetrators of violence against the vulnerable women and children.
She reiterated the ministry commitment to continue to collaborate with Civil Society Organizations and other relevant partners and agencies to curb the menace
In a related development the Minister of budget and national planning Clem Agba said the the federal government has made budgetary allocation to some non governmental organization such as spotlight initiative to help it carry out it function effectively.
He maintained that the budgetary allocation would help the organization in implementing its programs and policy in the country.
He called on the state government to do same so as to ease the activities of the organization in the states.
On it part the Sokoto state government said the meeting was organized by the spotlight initiative with the coordination of the state ministry of women and children affairs .
Speaking ath event the commissioner for women and children affairs Hajia Kulu Abdullahi Sifawa explained that the aim of the meeting is to provide highlight on situation , incidences , analysis of Sexual and gender based violence , responses and the way forward
She added that in line with this course that they push for the domestication of the Child Right Act which is very essential for the protection of the rights of women and children in the state.
She stated that the state has set up 6 Community based surveillance committee with 150 members trained to identify and report cases of violence against women and children in Sokoto North, South , Binji, Tangaza, Dange/ Shuni and Bodinga local government areas of the state.
She disclosed that the committee so far have reported 800 cases and with the assention of the Child Right Act by the Governor over 25 cases have been prosecuted .
Also speaking the Sultan of Sokoto Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar called for concerted efforts in stamping out violence against women and children in the country.
He advised parents and governments on the important of girl child education stressing that educating female folks will help in the development of the country.
The Paramount ruler stated that his council have been advocated against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence saying he is in support of any law that would help in curbing the menace
The leader of EU head of delegation to Nigeria Samuel ISopi , United Nations resident and humanitarian coordinator in Nigeria Matthias Schmale all spoke against Sexual and gender based violence against women and children and called for concerted effort to stop it.
The leaders of the delegation visited Nana Khadija foundation where they interacted with the victims and survival of SGBV in the state.