Zamfara Government has restated its determination and commitment to fight the menace of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in the state.
The state Commissioner for Women, Children and Social Development, Hajiya Nafisa Maradun, stated this in Gusau during a one-day sensitisation for women on SGBV prevention strategies
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event was organised by a group called International Alert, in collaboration with the Ministry for Women, Children and Social Development.
The International Alert is funded by the UK Conflict Security and Stability Fund (CSSF) implementing the pilot project on how to guard against the gender violence.
Other activities of the group are promoting stability, access to justice and accountability in Zamfara and Kaduna states.
Maradun, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Habibu Yelwa, urged the participants to pay attention to the lectures and presentations during the exercise.
She assured the participants of the state government’s willingness to continue to partner with such groups in promoting accountability, access to justice, women empowerment and girl-child education.
She said the event was a good step towards addressing SGBV and other related cases in the state.
“Our women groups should serve as agents in the fight against SGBV at community levels, ” she said.
On his part, the Project Officer of the group, Mr Stephen John, urged the women groups to encourage breaking the culture of silence against SGBV at the community levels .
He explained that the event was aimed at educating women on SGBV prevention and how to change the norms and cultural practices that promoted the urgly trend of gender violence.
“The participants comprise 120 women groups drawn from Gusau, Birnin-Magaji and Tsafe local government areas of the State,” he said.
“Lectures and presentations were delivered on SGBV prevention, access to justice, breaking the culture of silence as well as addressing harmful cultural norms and practices
