The Kaduna State chapter of the National Working Group for the Implementation of Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law has urged the state government to increase budget allocation to end violence against women and girls.
The National Working Group is supported by Women Advocate Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC) and African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF), led by Legal Awareness for Nigerian Women (LAWN).
It is also in collaboration with other women-led CSOs which include the Kaduna State Coalition Against Gender-Based Violence, Gender Awareness Trust, Centre for Study and Resolution of Domestic Violence and the Grassroot Vision for Women Development Initiative.
Hannatu Ahuwan, the acting Executive Director of LAWN, made the call at a news conference in Kaduna on Tuesday in commemoration of the global campaign of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV).
Ahuwan, who lamented that GBV remained a significant concern for women and girls in Kaduna State, noted that “recent data indicates that approximately eight out of 10 women and girls in Kaduna experience some form of GBV.”
According to her, factors such as poverty, limited education and lack of financial independence contribute to women and girls’ vulnerability, with few successes in prosecution of perpetrators.
She explained that GBV is presented in different forms, which include physical violence/assault, rape, sexual abuse and harassment, abandonment and forceful eviction.
She said others include economic violence, political violence, intimate partner violence, verbal, psychological and emotional abuse.
The LAWN official, however, said government’s efforts must be recognised such as domestication of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law and amendment of some provisions of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law for rape.
She also said that the government’s provision of support services through the establishment of five Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) situated in the four major general hospitals in the state and one mobile is commendable.
She equally said other efforts include the development of a Sexual Harassment Policy for the Kaduna State University (KASU) and building and fully equipped One-Stop Shelter for survivors.
The acting executive director said a close look at the just approved Kaduna State 2025 budget with a reflection of the 2024 performance does not show commitment to addressing GBV issues in the state.
She explained that “although there are budget heads for the Sexual Referral Centres and for shelter operation in the budget for the Ministry of Human Services and Social Development (MHSSD), nothing was released in 2024.
“Other MDAs who also work toward addressing GBV like Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, do not have any budget lines in that regard.
“Tackling GBV is not one person’s or ministry’s business. There is need for coordinated approach, considering the fact that GBV has become a menace in our societies and communities.”
She, therefore, urged Gov. Uba Sani to prioritise support for GBV interventions, especially releases, as well as enforcing proper coordination mechanisms for such interventions.
She emphasised that without cash backing, merely earmarking budget lines is not enough.
Ahuwan said releases for the Sexual Assault Referral Centres and Shelter Operation as included in the Budget of the MHSSD should be given utmost attention so that support services would be provided by the SARCs.
(NAN)
