BY Maryam Abdullahi
Amina El-Iman, Kwara commissioner for health, says strict punishment awaits gender-based violence (GBV) offenders in the state.
El-Iman spoke on Tuesday at the close-out event on mobilising communities to prevent violence against women and girls (VAWG).
The event is organised by Stand To End Rape Initiative (STER), a non-governmental organisation, in Ilorin, the state capital.
She said violence against women and girls is a criminal act which should be discouraged to ensure fairness and equality for all citizens.
“The menace of GBV is rampant and should be discouraged, and all hands must be on deck to checkmate the criminal act,” she said.
She said Kwara has consistently led efforts to advocate for and prevent violence against women and girls, adding that it is crucial to educate the public on the illegality of GBV.
The commissioner urged survivors to report incidents to the appropriate authorities for the justice.
She added that the government is committed to collaborating with relevant agencies to enhance the wellbeing of Kwara’s citizens.
On his part, Hussain Muhammed, Kwara programme manager for STER, said the program seeks to strengthen the capacity of grassroots coalitions to become effective GBV advocates.
Muhammed urged stakeholders to engage and empower local leaders, adding that it is important to integrate awareness and prevention courses into schools, and healthcare facility frameworks.
“This will help to maintain and build on the knowledge and skills developed during the project,” he said.
“There is a need to establish robust monitoring and evaluation system to regularly assess the effectiveness of GBV prevention activities and make necessary adjustments, as this will help in tracking progress and identifying areas for improvement.
“There is also the need to explore diverse funding sources and private sector contributions to ensure that resources are available for ongoing and future prevention activities.”
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