Sokoto Govt inaugurates response teams to tackle SGBV

Mon, Nov 30, 2020
By editor
2 MIN READ

Health

SOKOTO State Ministry of Women and Children Affairs on Monday inaugurated Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV) response teams to tackle abuse of women and related matters in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the inauguration took place during a stakeholders’ review meeting under EU-UN Spotlight Initiative Project, in Sokoto.

Hajia A’isha Dantsoho, Permanent Secretary in the ministry who inaugurated the teams said members were drawn from the State Ministries of Justice, Women and Children Affairs, Social Welfare and Health.

Other members according to her are human right lawyers, police, journalists, community-based organisations, Non-Governmental Organisations, religious and traditional institutions.

Dantsoho enjoined team members to live up to expectations and made marks in the struggle against SGBV in their respective areas.

She emphasised on the need to ensure speedy trial of cases of SGBV and child abuses.

Dantsoho expressed concern over the rate of rape cases which he said had increased dramatically in the country.

Responding on behalf of members, Mr Ankeli Emmanuel, commended the team which he said comprised skilled officers drawn from various professions.

Emmanuel who is leading the media team assured that his team would proffer an approach to address all forms of violence against women and children in the state.

“We shall carry out advocacy, awareness, orientation and sensitisation to relevant stakeholders as well as work toward implementation of Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (VAPP) in the state,” he said.

The United Nations Resident Coordinator, Mr Edward Callon, described men who rape underage girls as mentally ill.

“It is shameful when we abuse people we claim to love.  Lots of men are mentally ill. What do you enjoy or get from a 3 years old girl?

“Do we need a 60 years old man that raped a 3 years old in any society?” Callon asked.

He advised stakeholders to redouble their efforts towards shaming perpetrators of GBV to change the society.

Mr Rabiu Gandi, from Safe the Child Initiative (STCI), said they had recorded no fewer than 402 cases of SGBV in Sokoto, between January and November.

Gandi said the figure could be more as the data was only for the official cases reported.

NAN reports that the quarterly meeting was chaired by Sokoto State Deputy Governor, Alhahi Manir Dan’Iya.

Dan’Iya expressed state government’s commitment to end SGBV in the state and promote peace.

NAN

– Nov. 30, 2020 @ 18:17 GMT /

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