A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Legal Awareness for Nigerian Women (LANW) has called for media support in fighting the menace of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) and implementation of SGBV laws in Kaduna state.
Acting Executive Director of LANW, Mrs. Hannatu Ahuwan, made the call in her presentation during a sensitisation session with media practitioners and journalists on implementation of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law and the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) in Kaduna state.
She urged media practitioners to do a scan assessment of what had happened in the past and identify the gaps and challenges encountered that has inhibited the fight against SGBV in the state, while conceptualizing an intervention that would effectively address the menace in the state.
The acting ED told participants that the SGBV Justice Network (SJN) Cluster was implementing a project with Palladium’s Strengthening Civic Advocacy and Local Engagement (SCALE), sponsored by USAID, to consolidate on the already existing partnerships to deepen ongoing advocacy efforts for a more efficient implementation of the VAPP Law and the ACJL.
According to her, “the project takes place in Bauchi, Benue, Enugu, Kaduna, and Osun states to ensure speedy justice service delivery and resolution of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) cases. Legal Awareness for Nigerian Women (LANW) is the Cluster member implementing the SJN project in Kaduna state.”
Mrs. Ahuwan tasked Journalists to take responsibility for their roles, in terms of prevention, response, creating awareness, and providing helplines for survivors of SGBV in society, noting that it is time to expose all forms of domestic violence against women.
She also pleaded with Journalists to intensify efforts toward eradicating rape and GBV, saying that data show that the number of victims from this menace had increased
“The engagement is aimed at encouraging more reportage, sensitization, and advocacies on policy reforms and implementation that would eliminate SGBV. This is also a time to seek partnership with you and it is necessitated due to the increasing cases of SGBV, child early and forced marriage, trafficking in persons and so many other forms of violence in the society. These cases are increasing because of the spate of insecurity and poverty, which has increased the rate of abuse.”