Lift Africa Leads Institutional Validation Of School-based GBV Response Framework In Kano

Efforts to strengthen protection for school-aged children in Kano State have advanced following the institutional validation of a school-based Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) response framework developed through the Kano Gender Justice Summit process convened by Lift Africa Foundation.

The validation exercise brought together key actors from the education sector, justice institutions, law enforcement agencies, and child protection stakeholders to review and refine standardized protocols aimed at preventing, reporting, and responding to sexual violence in schools.

The framework introduces coordinated referral pathways between schools, healthcare providers, security agencies, and social welfare institutions to ensure that cases of abuse are documented, escalated, and prosecuted through a structured and survivor-centered system.

Aisha Hamman, human rights lawyer and founder of Lift Africa Foundation, said the process marks a shift from advocacy to institutional adoption of structured protection systems.

“What we are seeing is the translation of commitments made at the Gender Justice Summit into operational frameworks within the education system,” she said. “Schools are no longer isolated reporting points; they are now integrated into a coordinated protection architecture.”

Stakeholders noted that prior to this intervention, responses to school-related sexual violence were fragmented, often resulting in delayed reporting, weak evidence collection, and limited accountability outcomes.

Under the emerging framework, schools are expected to implement standardized safeguarding procedures, including mandatory reporting protocols, referral documentation systems, and designated child protection focal points.

Officials participating in the validation exercise acknowledged the need for stronger alignment between education policy and justice sector processes, particularly in handling cases involving minors.

Education sector representatives described the framework as a practical tool for improving student safety and strengthening institutional accountability within schools.

The initiative builds on resolutions from the Kano Gender Justice Summit held in December 2025, where stakeholders committed to strengthening multisector coordination, improving survivor support systems, and closing gaps in the justice response to gender-based violence.

Experts said the institutionalisation of school-based safeguarding mechanisms represents a critical step toward reducing vulnerability and improving access to justice for children across the state.