Addressing Gender-Based Violence in Niger State
Stakeholders involved in the fight against gender-based violence (GBV) in Niger State have expressed concerns about the challenges posed by local norms and cultural practices. These factors, they argue, make it difficult to document many successes in addressing GBV. During a recent meeting assessing their progress under the SCAPA GBV 2.0 initiative, stakeholders acknowledged some achievements but emphasized the need for further action.
The project director of Global Promoters of Community Initiative and organizer of SACPA GBV 2.0 in Niger State, Olasukanmi Kalejaiye, shared insights with Arewa PUNCH. He highlighted that while the initiative achieved some milestones, there is a pressing need to transition to SACPA GBV 3.0 to scale up efforts.
“We give thanks to the Almighty God for giving us the wisdom to achieve the milestone set for ourselves in SCAPA GBV 2.0. We also appreciate partners and stakeholders who made it possible,” said Kalejaiye.
He added, “We believe that from 2.0, there should be a transition to 3.0 or whatever name it should be called. You have seen the successes coming in, and the rate at which people are calling for more. They want us to scale up.”
Kalejaiye also emphasized the importance of securing additional funding sources to continue and expand the work being done by the Nigeria Women Trust Fund in Niger State.
Real Cases Highlight the Need for Action
During the SCAPA GBV 2.0 initiative, over 15 cases were recorded, though only two were prioritized. One case involved a father who raped his two children, an eight-year-old and a two-year-old. Another case occurred in Kontagora, where a four-year-old girl was severely raped, resulting in damage to her intestines. She was later found dumped at a site.
“Thanks to the intervention of the women at the Women’s Affairs ministry and our supportive journalists who brought up the case, the Women’s Affairs took action, and they were able to salvage the life of the minor,” Kalejaiye explained.
Challenges Faced by Stakeholders
Hasanna Maiyaki, an official of the National Human Rights Commission and the gender officer of the Niger State office, discussed the major challenges in tackling GBV. She noted that norms, cultures, and traditions significantly influence how people perceive and respond to gender-based violence.
“Gender based violence is everywhere, and it is a thing of concern to everyone. We have issues, and one of the major issues is that funding to go to the grassroots where these things are happening requires a lot of money,” Maiyaki said.
She also pointed out the security challenges in areas like Zone C and the Kontagora axis, where banditry activities pose risks for those trying to access victims.
“Sometimes, we involve the security personnel to meet the victims. Another issue is the norms, beliefs, and traditions of the people. It is one of the major issues we are facing in tackling these issues,” she added.
Maiyaki shared a case involving forced marriage, where a woman did not want to marry but faced pressure from her father. Thanks to NGOs and sensitization campaigns, she reached out for help and was provided a safe home through collaboration with the Women’s Affairs Ministry.
Efforts by the Ministry of Women Affairs
Two directors in the Ministry of Women Affairs, Mary Isah and Lanre Ibrahim, spoke about their efforts in curbing GBV in the state and called for the expansion of the SCAPA GBV 2.0 initiative.
“We thank God for this project, SACPA GBV 2.0, that has come to a close today. Although it has come to a close, we are still clamouring for an extension reason being that there is a great impact of the very project on the state, because GBV issues have come to a kind of reduction,” they said.
They emphasized that awareness and sensitization have led to increased reporting of GBV cases, which, in turn, allows for better solutions.
“Definitely, GBV issues will be coming out, and more issues will be tackled. Indirectly, it looks like the cases are increasing, but the increment will lead to a reduction because it is when you are aware of something that you bring it to the limelight. And that’s when we offer a solution to it,” they added.
Success Stories and Future Directions
The directors highlighted that SCAPA GBV 2.0 has resulted in several success stories, including the apprehension of perpetrators, the provision of justice, and the empowerment of victims.
“There has been a lot of success stories,” they affirmed.
As the initiative moves forward, stakeholders are hopeful that the transition to SACPA GBV 3.0 will provide even greater opportunities to address GBV effectively in Niger State. The focus remains on raising awareness, securing funding, and overcoming cultural barriers to ensure justice and safety for all.