Gender-Based Violence: Katsina govt repatriates 12 survivors to states

The Katsina State Government said it has repatriated about 12 survivors of Gender-Based Violence, GBV, to their respective states from December 2023 to date.

The state’s Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hajiya Zainab Musa-Musawa, disclosed this in an interview with NAN in Katsina.

According to her, the ministry, through its GBV Centre, handed over some of the survivors to their state officials, while some were reunited with their families.

Musa-Musawa further disclosed that since the centre’s inauguration on December 10, 2023, to date, it has received and treated about 91 GBV cases.

She said that 41 cases of abuse were treated, 11 cases of denial of resources, nine cases related to forced marriages, nine physical assaults, ten sexual assaults and three rape cases.

Musa-Musawa said, “Stakeholders face challenges such as limited resources, bureaucratic hurdles, and cultural resistance in addressing GBV in the state.

“And also, barriers to reporting GBV include stigma, fear of reprisal, and distrust in the justice system, perpetuating a culture of silence among survivors.

“Existing support services and legal frameworks often fall short due to underfunding, inaccessibility, and institutional weaknesses.

“Overcoming these challenges requires sustained investment in capacity-building, community engagement, and policy reform to ensure a survivor-centred approach and effective response to GBV in Katsina State.”

She assured us of the state’s commitment to continuous efforts to improve the extant synergy between members of the steering committees.