ASHENEWS reports that Women-led Organizations in Gender-Based Violence in Niger state have called for increased budget allocation in sexual and gender based violence to end violence against women and girls in the state.
The group also called on governments at all levels to step up collaboration with state actors and the private sector.
This call was made by the group during a Press Conference in Minna. The State Coordinator of the WARD-C Implementation Working Group, Mrs Hassana Joan Kpetu said the call became necessary following the adverse effect SGBV is having on the society.
“We are just requesting 0.05% of the total budget to ensure that MDAs such as Ministries of Women Affairs, Justice, Health, Education, Humanitarian and Disaster Management, and the Child Rights Agency are adequately funded to combat issues of human rights violations and SGBV.”
According to Kpetu, sexual and gender based violence undermines both economic and social development and individual capacity to realize his or her rights and potentials under already stringent conditions.
Kpetu said that the Women Advocacy Research and Documentation Centre (WARD-C), a Human Rights Organisation is working to combat all forms of human rights violations, child abuse, gender based violence, and child labour against girls and boys, among others.
She explained that they are working tirelessly to ensure that the menace of SGBV is brought to a standstill in society stating that the purpose of the briefing was to draw the attention of the state government, legislators, local councils and stakeholders to ensure that the 2025 budget reflects a human-centric approach where SGBV is prioritized.
The state Coordinator then suggested the engagement and participation of Legislators as strategic partners in adopting a gender-responsive budgeting framework for the appropriate allocation of resources for the effective mitigation of SGBV in the State.
While commending the Niger House of Assembly for passing the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law in the state, the group appealed that the Legislators ensure the enforcement of the VAPP law and make amendments in sections where punishments are not commiserate with the gravity of the offence.
Representatives from FIDA, NCWS, SARC, 100 Lobby Women group and WRAPA.
