Sokoto Strengthens Gender Violence Response Teams, Community Resilience

Sokoto State Ministry of Women and Children Affairs and the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), have charged response teams on addressing rising cases of Gender-Based Violence (GBV).

The permanent secretary in the ministry, Alhaji Abubakar Alhaji, gave the charge during a GBV response teams review meeting in Sokoto yesterday.

The meeting was under a project, tagged “Strengthening Access to Reproductive and Adolescence Health (SARAH) in Nigeria” funded by the European Union (EU).

It was a multi-sectoral programme focuses on reproductive, maternal, neonatal and child health, along with issues around adolescent health

and wellness in the three Northern states of Adamawa, Kwara and Sokoto

Alhaji emphasised the need for increased community engagement, awareness and community engagement toward addressing the rising prevalence of GBV in society.

The Director, Women in the ministry, Hajia Hauwa’u Umar-Jabo, underscored the need for non-governmental organisations and community based groups at all levels to prioritise the establishment of volunteer response teams to support GBV prevention efforts.

Umar-Jabo said such measures were essential to addressing misconceptions, break the culture of silence and strengthen shelters and psychosocial support systems for survivors.