The Mineral Sector Support for Economic Diversification (MinDiver) Project, has developed action plan on Gender Based Violence (GBV) to mitigate against rape of women and girls.
Dr Sallim Salaam, the Project Coordinator of MinDiver made this known during a roadshow and sensitisation on GBV in Suleja, Niger on Tuesday.
MinDiver is a World Bank-assisted project under the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development (MMSD) and its objective is to enhance the mining sector’s contribution to the economy by strengthening key government institutions.
It also seeks to improve information, infrastructure, knowledge and foster domestic investment in the mining sector.
Salaam, represented by Dr Abba Usman, the Deputy Coordinator of MinDiver, said the sensitisation was aimed at educating Suleja populace on the existence of GBV and Grievance Redress Mechanism to mitigate against their occurrence within the MinDiver activities.
“In every location where World Bank project is located, just as the Ladi Kwali Pottery Centre is located in Suleja, sensitisation must be conducted as a proof of commitment towards GBV prevention.
“In every World Bank project, GBV accountability and framework must be developed and one of the component is public enlightenment.
“As you are all aware, MinDiver has recently commenced civil work at the Ladi Kwali Portery Centre in Suleja.
“Therefore, it becomes necessary that the implementation of all the action plans to prevent and mitigate GBV-related issues that were prepared for the pottery centre will also commence,” he said.
He said that the MinDiver had engaged a consulting firm to conduct GBV service providers mapping across its intervention areas.
Others include prepared and signed code of GBV conducts within contractors and contractors’ staff prior to the commencement of civil works, organised workshop in GBV for identified stakeholders within project area and among others.
“As part of the agenda for today’s event, we have identified some location for the public enlightenment on the GBV issues at the Ladi Kwali Centre, Emir Palace, Suleja Local Government Headquarters.
“Government Secondary School Suleja, Women Day Secondary School, communities within Ladi Kwali Centre; we have produced jingles to be aired on GBV, HIV and AIDS as well as road shows.
Mrs Ngozi Okorie, the Consultant for the GBV Project, said it became imperative to conduct the elightenment as GBV was on the increase not only in Niger State but across the country.
Okorie said that the roadshow sensitisation would help to mitigate abuse on women in the state, adding that women and girls that became victims of rape were living with the stigma and some were dying in silence.
“Women and girls that fell victims of rapists are keeping quiet due to stigmatisation in the society, they don’t want to talk, they are traumatised, enough is enough, this must stop.”
In his goodwill message, Alhaji, Yunusa Saleh, Village Head, Suleja appreciated MinDiver for the campaign against GBV.
Saleh said that perpetrators against women and girls should be brought to book by the appropriate authorities.