The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) in collaboration with the British Council, Managing Conflict Programme, has embarked on aggressive campaign against Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV) in Yobe State.
In commemoration of the ‘16 days of activism,’ FIDA, British Council, with support from other partners of youths and women CSOs, performed two day solidarity walk and advocacy visits to lawmakers and traditional rulers within the state.
Speaking at the Yobe State House of Assembly, the state chairperson of FIDA, Hajiya Aisha Godowoli, said the 16 days of activism are set aside by the United Nations to fight against GBV and commiserate with the victims in the entire world.
Godowoli disclosed that they have been able to establish Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) which offers services to victims/survivors of sexual and gender based violence in the state.
She noted that SARC was a conglomerate of lawyers, medical doctors, security agencies, Non-Governmental and civil society organizations among others, with centers in Damaturu, Gujba, Potiskum, Gashua and Nguru.
She said the center provides responses that include medical services, psycho –social support to survivors and their families.
Godowoli urged lawmakers to promulgate relevant laws, and synergize with the judiciary to bring perpetrators to book.
She further urged the lawmakers to consider a budget that would fund the SARC center to continue its operations.
The speaker, Yobe State House of Assembly, Ahmed Lawan Mirwa, said already, a bill to punish rape offenders and other criminality has been passed by the assembly and ready for the governor’s assent.
Mirwa said the House would also consider budget appropriation to sustain the various SARC centers in the near future.
In his remarks, the Principal Medical Officer, Children and Women hospital Damaturu, Dr Ali lamented the increase in SGBV in the state.
He noted that over 200 cases of Sexual and Gender Based Violence were reported to the SARC center in Damaturu for rehabilitation.
On their parts, the traditional rulers, represented by the district head of Bulabulin, Alhaji Kalli Murfama, said all hands must be on deck to support the fight against gender based violence.
FIDA wrapped up the advocacy visit with signing an MOU with the leadership of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).
The agreement involved conveying of victims/survivors of SGBV to the nearest referral centers free of charge.
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