Sokoto Govt, UNFPA inaugurate reconstituted technical group on GBV
The Sokoto State Government in collaboration with United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), has inaugurated the reconstituted advocacy Technical Working Group (TWG), on coordinating Gender-Based Violence (GBV) activities in the state.
The effort was part of measures to reactivate response teams and community members activities to address GBV cases and strengthen partnerships across the state.
The Resource Person, Aisha Abdullahi, led the participants on the inauguration of the TWG and revalidation of the state’s GBV Policy document in Sokoto.
She said the aim was to strengthen community perception and understanding.
Abdullahi emphasised the need for increased community engagement, educational awareness and interpersonal discussions to address the rising prevalence of GBV in the society.
She underscored the need for government at all levels to prioritise the establishment of volunteer response teams to support GBV prevention efforts.
She said such measures were essential in addressing misconceptions, breaking the culture of silence and strengthening shelters and psychosocial support systems for survivors.
Abdullahi cautioned community members against concealing rape and other serious offences or tampering with evidence before investigations are concluded.
She described such interference as a major obstacle to preserving evidence needed for successful prosecution of perpetrators in court.
She added that citizens have a responsibility to amplify survivors’ voices, challenge harmful narratives and sustain public attention on GBV-related issues.
The resource person noted that insecurity, economic hardship, harmful cultural practices and weak enforcement mechanisms had continued to expose women and girls to various forms of abuse in the region.
She therefore called for the strengthening of GBV desks in police stations, schools and health facilities to improve response systems and access to support services.
The Director, state Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, Hajiya Hauwa’u Umar-Jabo, said that the committee was expected to provide a clear plan to guide systems and practices, and request that attention be given to identified emerging areas.
Umar-Jabo explained that the purpose was to ensure that men and women, in all diversity, were well informed and fully involved in the processes.
“The committee is therefore expected to work with the stakeholders and serve as the central coordinating and advisory body to the Ministries of Health, Women and Children Affairs on issues of GBV toward implementing activities,” she said
The UNFPA Representative, Mr Benedict Esson, reiterated UNFPA’s commitment to supporting the GBV activities and others towards promoting healthy living.
Esson said the efforts included ending maternal deaths, unmet need for family planning, GBV and harmful traditional practices, including FGM.
“The UNFPA is committed to supporting global and national programmes to accelerate the GBV activities, abandonment of the harmful traditional practices thereby advancing the rights, health and well-being of women and girls,’’ he said.
The committee members were drawn from civil society organisations, government officials from different ministries and agencies as well as law enforcement agencies.
Others are representatives of traditional institutions, donor agencies, NGOs, Community-Based Organisations, journalists and health educators.
