A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Voluntary Aid Initiative (VAI) has sensitised 180 people across communities in Zamfara state on how to address barriers to access to justice to reduce sexual Gender Base (SGBV) violence in the state.
Speaking on Sunday, the Project Officer of the NGO in Zamfara state, Mr Buhari Ya’u Moriki disclosed that the sensitisation was conducted in collaboration with International Alert under a Project Promoting Stability, Access to Justice and Accountability in North West.
He disclosed that the theme of the sensitization was “Awareness and Advocacy Campaign program for increased access to Justice aimed at addressing the identified barriers to access to Justice.”
Moriki said the sensitisation took place in Tsafe, Bilbis, Birnin-Magaji and Nasarawa-Godel Communities under Birnin Magaji and Tsafe Local Government Areas of the state.
According to Moriki, the Country Director of the International Alert, Paul Nyulaku attended the sensitization program.
Nyulaku, who was represented by the National Project Manager, Mr Sunday Momoh Jimoh, accompanied by the National Gender Equity and Social Inclusion Officer of the NGO, Mrs Fatima Saidu Inusa, commended Zamfara communities for their active participation in the success of the project in the state.
“You know, the International Alert implementing a project entitled: “Promoting Stability, Access to Justice and Accountability’’ in Zamfara and Kaduna States.
“The project aimed at inclusive participation of community groups in alternative dispute resolution to reduce the prevalence of community-level violence.
“The project also aims at providing marginalised groups, especially women with opportunities and platforms to make their voices heard and advocate for their concerns.
“This project is also to create a favourable environment for women and other vulnerable groups by dealing with prevalent sexual and gender-based violence”, Nyulaku explained.
Moriki further said that a total of 180 participants across the four communities including religious and community leaders, youths, women groups, people with disability and minority groups among others were sensitised”.
“You know, in each of the four communities we selected 30 Women and 20 men who participated in the sensitisation program”.
“The participants were sensitized on how to address barriers and other challenges hindering access to justice with a view of reducing SGBV in society.”
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