She added that, in order to end rape and other forms of gender-based violence, there must be an investment in prevention, by creating awareness and sensitizing the public on the effects of GBV on our Economic, Social and Political growth as a Nation.
The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), says despite government and CSOs committed and recommitted efforts to end all forms of violence against women and girls, including sexual violence. Yet, rape, sexual harassment and sexual abuse amongst others are everyday violent occurrences.
This was made known by the Centre’s Gender Technical Assistant, Zainab Aminu while addressing newsmen on the need to carpet the challenges of gender-based violence in the state.
Zainab revealed that in the month of November 2022, the Centre received a total of 171 cases of gender-based violence through its monitoring App named, ‘CITAD GBV app’.
According to her “Fourteen (14) of these cases were of rape whereby twelve of the victims were girls and two male victims, 61 of the cases were of Sexual Harassment, 67 was Sexual Abuse, 16 was Online Harassments, 3 was Sexual Blackmail and 10 was Wife Battering.”
Aminu further explained that rape and other forms of gender-based violence not only have negative consequences for women and girls alone but also for their families, community and their country at large.
“Citizens should advocate for combatting gender-based violence to become a governmental priority”
“The governments should provide zero tolerance for violence against women and children” Aminu stressed.
Zainab, disclosed that the Centre is calling on the government to, as a matter of urgency, domesticate the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (VAPP) in the state.
She added that, in order to end rape and other forms of gender-based violence, there must be an investment in prevention, by creating awareness and sensitizing the public on the effects of GBV on our Economic, Social and Political growth as a Nation.
“We must ensure that those who commit rape are brought to justice and furthermore end impunity” Aminu noted.