Stakeholders in Jigawa State have raised deep concern over rising incidents of gender-based violence, describing the trend as alarming and a serious threat to the safety, dignity, and wellbeing of women and girls.
They raised the concern at stakeholders’ engagement meeting
organised by Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) in collaboration with Male Feminist Network (MFN) project, with support from the Ford Foundation, through the Centre for Leadership, Strategy, and Development (Centre-LSD), held on Wednesday at True Run Plaza, Dutse.
They identified poverty and illiteracy as part of factors contributing to the problem in the society.
The stakeholders attributed two-third of the problem to men, citing their negligence of key responsibilities, causing continuous damages on the lives of victims.
“There is a need for proper counseling for men before marriage so they can fully understand their responsibilities as husbands.
“This can play a key role in reducing gender-based violence, much of which stems from divorce and the breakdown of families,” they said.
They highlighted that both religions- Islam and Christianity have provided full cover and protection to women and children who are mostly the victims of the violence.
“There is need for our Imams and pastors to include the issue of gender-based violence in their sermons and services for men who are key actors to know more about religious views on the problem,” they advocated.
They advised the state government to ensure implementation of Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act in order to eliminate violence in private and public life.
Earlier in his welcome address, Muhammad Sani Sa’idu, from MFN Project Officer, said the theme of the engagement is “men as protectors not perpetrators: promoting faith, culture and justice to end gender based violence”
He said men who were supposed to be protectors of women against Gender Based Violence were now perpetrators.
