Niger State Governor, Abubakar Sani-Bello on Monday inaugurated a 20-member management committee to address the issues of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in the state.
The committee would be chaired by the wife of the Governor, Dr. Amina Bello, while the state Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hajiya Fati Tasala, will serve as Vice-Chairperson of the committee.
While inaugurating the committee, Gov. Bello said that most Gender-Based Violence had translated to abuse of fundamental human rights, adding that both women and men were affected by the menace.
He said the constitution of the committee was to address issues of Gender-Based Violence in the state, describing the members as “capable and committed to pave way for a better society.”
Responding, Chairperson of the committee, Dr. Amina Bello, explained that the statistics of GBV in the state was worrisome as most of the acts were perpetrated during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Related Posts
She said that there was an increased number of cases of rape ranging from old women to children of less than three months.
The chairperson added that in 2020, about 133 cases were reported to RAYUWA centre with just eight convictions out of 77 prosecutions.
The governor’s wife noted that for the committee to be able to deliver on its mandate, there was the need for the support of the general public.
She disclosed that RAISE Foundation with support of Action Aid Group and the Ministry of Women Affairs had renovated a three-bedroom apartment to serve as a temporal safe home for victims of GBV.
She said that the old orphanage would soon be converted to a permanent safe home. The chairperson called on the state government to support the centre and replicate it across the 25 local government areas of the state as well as implement the Gender-Based Violence law.
The committee comprises representatives of the chief judge of the state, House of Assembly Committee on Women Affairs, the police, FIDA, traditional and religious leaders among others.
