The UN has reiterated its commitment to addressing the root causes of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) against women and girls in Sokoto State through collaboration with the media.
The Chief of Party, UNICEF Sokoto Field Office, Mr Mohameden Fall stated the commitment at the opening of a four-day dialogue with media practitioners on, “Ethical Reporting and Advocacy to Eliminate Violence against Women and Girls in Sokoto”.
The event, organized by the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative Project, is aimed at eliminating violence against women and girls, which globally afflicts one in three women in their lifetime.
Fall said that the organisation would also ensure access to inclusive, timely and quality services for victims and survivors of GBV across the state.
He stressed that the society was presently in a situation whereby the rate of violence against women and children, mainly girls, was on the increase.
“A national study on violence against children has shockingly revealed that before the age of 18, six out of 10 children were victims of some form of violence.
“It also revealed that one in four girls and one in 10 boys are victims of sexual violence and majority of children report multiple incidents. It also revealed that children do not speak, seek or receive services”, he said.
As a result of this, Fall said less than 6 per cent of children, who were victims of sexual or physical violence, have asked for help, while less than five per cent of those who had asked for help received any assistance.
He solicited for more media engagement in the fight against violence against the most vulnerable groups and ensuring that social norms and practices that were harmful to women and children were either eradicated or reduced to the barest minimum.
“The UN initiative in the Spotlight is pleased to work with the media to end this threat of violence against women and children.
“Spotlight Initiative in Nigeria and Sokoto aims to support a Nigeria where all women and girls are free from violence and harmful practices,” he said.
Fall however said the vision would only be realized by addressing the links between sexual and gender-based violence and harmful practices with related aspects of sexual and reproductive health and rights as a cross-cutting theme.
All actors under the Spotlight Project in Sokoto state made presentations on their activities and solicited for increased media partnership on educating people to arouse more response to GBV across the state.
