Stakeholders strengthen Jigawa fight against sexual violence

Stakeholders from across Jigawa State converged in Dutse to strengthen collaboration on the prevention, reporting and support for survivors of Sexual and Gender Based Violence.

The engagement was organised by the Jigawa State Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes Project, JG-ACReSAL, a World Bank assisted State Project Management Unit, SPMU.

The one-day stakeholders’ engagement which held on Tuesday at the Manpower Development Institute, in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital was declared open by the Project Coordinator, represented by the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Zahraddeen Saleh.

Saleh, who explained that the meeting was critical to protecting vulnerable persons in project communities across the state, declared,

“We are gathered here today to build stronger referral pathways that will ensure no survivor of SGBV is left without help. ACReSAL is not just about climate resilience, but also about protecting human dignity.”

He added that the World Bank’s safeguard policies require all projects to have clear mechanisms for preventing and responding to SGBV.

“Our goal is to make sure that every community in the 27 LGAs understands where to report cases and where to get support,” he said.

Saleh thanked participants for their commitment and urged them to take the message back to their communities.

“The success of this project depends on all of us. Let us work together to build a Jigawa where every person is safe and resilient,” he urged the participants.

Speaking on the objectives of the workshop, the Project Environmental and Social Officer, Umar Hassan, said the gathering was designed to harmonise the work of all actors.

“The objective of this workshop is to strengthen collaboration among referral pathways actors for effective prevention, reporting and support for SGBV survivors,” Umar Hassan stated.

He pointed out that gaps in communication between service providers often delay justice and care for survivors, adding that, “When police, health workers, traditional leaders and CSOs work in silos, survivors suffer. This engagement will close those gaps.”

The Social Livelihood Officer and Gender Desk Officer, Zainab Baba-Santali, while making a presentation on the ACReSAL project and its safeguard instruments, said, the project has zero tolerance for any form of SGBV within its activities and communities.

“ACReSAL project and safeguards instruments are in place to ensure that our interventions do not harm anyone. We must all be watchdogs in our communities,” Baba-Santali stated.

She, therefore, urged stakeholders to mainstream gender considerations in all climate resilience activities, adding that, “Women and girls are most affected by climate shocks. We must protect them while we build resilience.”

In her presentation at the event, the Grievances Redress Officer, Maryam Abdullahi, explained that the GRM provides safe and confidential channels for reporting complaints related to the project, including SGBV cases.

“Our GRM is designed to be accessible, transparent and survivor-centered. Anyone can report through toll-free lines, suggestion boxes, or directly to our focal persons in LGAs,” Mr. Abdullahi said.

She urged community leaders to encourage victims to speak out without fear of stigmatisation, stating that, “Silence helps perpetrators. Speaking up helps survivors get medical, legal and psychosocial support.”

Representing the State Ministry of Justice, the Director of Citizen Rights said the government is committed to enforcing laws that protect women and children in Jigawa State.

“The Ministry of Justice will continue to prosecute offenders and provide legal aid to survivors. No one is above the law,” the Director stated.

However, he called on all referral actors to document cases properly to support prosecution, insisting that,

“Evidence is key. Health facilities, police and CSOs must work together to preserve evidence for justice,” he added.

Arewa PUNCH reports that, Participants were taken through a comprehensive sessions on case management, confidentiality, and survivor support services available in the state.

A participant from Guri LGA, Fa’iza Idris, a women leader, described the engagement as timely.

According to her, “This training has opened our eyes. Now we know where to take a survivor in our community and how to follow up until she gets help,” she told our correspondent shortly after the workshop.

Another participant, Bello Munzali, a community health worker from Hadjia LGA, confesseɗ that he learnt more medical aspects for free just as he also learned new reporting procedpurres.

“As health workers, we are often the first point of contact. I now understand my role in referral and documentation to protect survivors,” Musa said.

Not a few of the stakeholders in attendance agreed on the need  to strengthen more ties at the LGA and community levels coordination teams to track SGBV cases and referrals.

They also resolved to conduct community sensitisation to increase awareness on available support services.

Our correspondent reports that participants at the event were drawn from varied institutions across the 27 local government areas of the state. They included representatives from security agencies, health facilities, traditional institutions, civil society organisations, women groups, and legal aid providers.