The Borno State Government has confirmed the recording of 4,104 cases of Sexual Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) among female and male victims between January and July this year.
According to the Ministry of Women Affairs, the victims comprised 3,805 female victims, while the male ones stood at 239 in various communities of the state.
Lamenting the increase in SGBV cases at the weekend, the Director of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Falmata Hamza at a news conference in Maiduguri, disclosed that: “The lack of gender-desks at police stations prevents investigations to prosecute Gender-Based Violence (GBV) suspects in the state.”
The briefings on GBV, was supported by the European Union (EU) and British Council to mark the 16 days of activism on World Human Rights Day.
She said despite reporting of cases with increased awareness and engagement of stakeholders, only 51 suspects of GBV were convicted during the same period.
While overcoming the challenges of violence, she disclosed that work is in progress to establish two SARC centers in Monguno and Biu.
Besides, she added that there would be free access to medical and psycho-social services at the State’s Ministry of Health, Women Affairs and other partners.
She pledged that the services will be provided along with livelihood support for survivors through what she described as; “the support and assistance from UN-Women and FAO.”
She attributed GBV to some of the challenges of late reporting of cases, community interferences and delay in the prosecution of suspects.
The Gabasawa Initiative Programme Manager, Oluwatoyin Salau said that the briefings are to improve public awareness on the ongoing issues of GBV.
The British Council representative, Emmanuel Iyaji, also condemned the increasing cases of GBV in Borno.
He said that the16-day activism is to combat violence against women and girls towards making them know their rights.
“They should be encouraged to seek justice in the law courts,” she declared.
He urged the public to join the crusade in the fight against SGBV in society, stressing that such threats destroy society and women as well as children’s life.
NAPTIP representative, Hadiza Brabi said it is important that a thorough sensitization and mobilization campaigns should be carried out across the state by all the stakeholders in the fight against SGBV.
She noted that; “Cases of GBV were becoming rampant if not prominent in Borno. Government as well as organizations including NGOs should intervene immediately to address the ugly situation.”
According to her, the interventions are in the overall interest of women and girls in the society.
