By Ahmed Ali, Kafanchan
In continuation with the 16 days Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, Salama Sexual Assaults Referral Centre (SARC) Kafanchan, Kaduna State, organized a sensitization meeting with students of Agile Government Secondary School, Dangoma, in Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna state.
This is coming after the center, in collaboration with Fantswam Foundation, Kafanchan led a stages walk for violence against women in Kafanchan.
The Centre Manager, Mrs. Grace Yohanna Abbin, who decried about the increase rate of violence against women in the area said SGBV remained an obstacle to achieving equality as well as fulfillment of women’s and girls.
According to her, the Centre has recorded 769 cases of sexual assault from January 1 to November 30, mostly against women.
“Of the 769 cases we recorded, 674 were against women and 95 against men,” she stated.
Speaking on GBV Prevention and Response in Dangoma community, Abbin said while gender based violence can also happen to men and boys, women and girls were mostly at the receiving end of it.
She encouraged victims to overlook the issue of stigma and report to the centre within 72 hours of abuse to enable medical experts to examine them so as to secure the conviction of offenders.
“We are asking everyone to invest their time and resources to prevent violence against women and girls.
“Violence can be from anyone and anytime, so we should work together to ensure that we end violence against our women and children,” she said.
Also, Abbas Madugu from Fantswam Foundation talked on HIV/AIDS prevention and response where he called on victims of sexual abuse to report the incidence so that to check their health status and take the measures to prevent the them against STD’s.
While commending the people of Kafanchan for their efforts to break the culture of silence with regards to GBV, she tasked the stakeholders to do more in preventing violence against women and children.
The Center appreciates the stakeholders that took part in the 16 Days Activism that includes security personnel, traditional and religious leaders, Women Peace and Mediation Platform (international Alert/Global Peace Development), among others.
The program was supported by the Center for Integrated Health Program (CIHP).
Salama centre is one of four in the state where victims of rape and other gender-based violence receive free counselling, medical and optional legal interventions.
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