GBV: CITAD calls for urgent domestication of Violence against persons prohibition act

Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD says it has recorded 57 cases of gender base violence in the month of February 2023, through its GBV monitoring App (CITAD GBV APP).

At a press conference by Zainab Aminu, gender officer of the center said, 14 Of these cases were rape, with 6 female victims and 1 male victim, and 21 were sexual harassment,

Further breakdown if the statistics shows that, 22 of the cases were sexual abuse, 2 were online harassment, 1 was sexual blackmail, and 4 were wife battering.

Zainab Aminu also warned that, GBV is a violation of human rights and a significant obstacle to National Development which has devastating consequences for individuals, families, communities, and the country as a whole.

CITAD called on government to Educate people about the different forms of GBV, its prevalence, and its negative impact on individuals and society as a whole.

”They should use various communication channels to reach as many people as possible.Establish and provide accessible and responsive services for GBV survivors, including counseling, medical and legal assistance, and shelters”

”The Government must enforce laws and policies that protect the rights of women and girls and hold perpetrators accountable for their actions.Engage men and boys in the fight against GBV, as they have a crucial role to play in promoting gender equality and changing harmful social norms and attitudes.Prevent GBV by addressing its root causes, such as gender inequality, poverty, and harmful social norms. This includes investing in education, economic empowerment, and community-based interventions”

It also called on individuals to speak out and take action:”Speak out against GBV and take action to stop it in your personal and professional life. This includes challenging harmful attitudes and behaviors, supporting survivors, and advocating for policy and legal reforms.The call to action is for all individuals, communities, civil society organizations, and governments to work together to end GBV. We must all take responsibility and do our part to create a safe and equal society for everyone, free from violence and discrimination.Individuals and local communities must be vigilant and respond promptly by alerting relevant security services when they suspect that someone is a victim of violence. We must all understand that GBV not only has negative consequences for women and girls but also for their families, communities, and countries as a whole.We urge everyone to take action to stop GBV, and call on the government to urgently domesticate the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (VAPP) in the state”.