…Pushes stronger referral networks to support victims
Muyideen Aliyu, llorin
In its resolve to prevent Gender-Based Violence (GBV), towards ensuring victims/survivors are not left, the Kwara State Government has reiterated zero tolerance for the scourge of GBV urging survivors to report cases of abuse to appropriately authority for necessary actions.
The Coordinator, Kwara State Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ ) Project, Engr.Dr Busari Toyin Isiaka, stated over the weekend, while addressing residents at Kínníkínní, Kaiama Local Government Area of the State, during the workshop titled “Prevention and Response to Gender Based Violence, for Project Community and Civil Workers.”
Isiaka observed that gender based violence, which could be physical, sexual, emotional, or economic abuse, has constituted a threat to the well-being of the victims and stressed the need for collaboratetive efforts to addressed the challenges.
Represented by the Gender and Social Safeguard Officer, Kwara Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ ) Project, Mrs. Kuburat Shola Agunbiade, the Coordinator stressed the need to fight the menace of whatever abuse, adding that adequate awareness on preventing and responding to Gender-Based Violence would checkmate the incidences of the crime.
He commended the State Government for the commitment at strengthening mechanisms for curtailing gender-based violence, saying that this consciousness is in accordance with the Gender and Social Safeguard element of the SAPZ Project.
“The survivors of gender-based violence deserves a lifeline from the government. For the fact that the SAPZ Project gives consideration for women and youths who are possible victims of this violence, the present administration will therefore ensure that these categories of citizens are free from any form of assault”, the Coordinator affirmed.
He charged the Communities to ensure that the referral mechanisms be reinforced, to properly deal with incidence of gender-based violence, identifying Security Agencies; Media; Ministry of Women Affairs; Ministry of Social Development; SAPZ Project’s Gender and Social Safeguard Officer Representatives of Legal Practitioners; Human Rights Commission and others as points of referral.
Earlier ,the Kaiama Local Government Gender-Based Officer, Mr. Inuwa Ismail,stressed the importance of understanding the referral protocol, to get compassionate and confidential care, emphasing the need to enhance the capacity of actors fighting Gender-Based Violence.
The Communities commended the State Government for initiating the project, adding that the programme was timely and that the sensitisation would go a long way to re-define the perspective of the villagers on issues at stake.
Kinninikinin community is one of the five communities to house Kwara SAPZ Project, an initiative expected to improve livelihood, reduce poverty and enhance the economy of rural areas and will take the awareness on how to avert and tackle this social menace to all the project communities in the state.
