The Katsina State Government said it has repatriated about 12 survivors of gender-based violence to their respective states from December 2023 till date.

The state’s Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hajiya Zainab Musa-Musawa, disclosed this during an interview 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.

Ms Musa-Musawa further disclosed that from the inauguration of the centre on December 10, 2023 till date, it had received and treated about 91 GBV cases.

She said that 41 cases of abuse were treated, 11 cases of denial to resources, nine cases related to forced marriages, nine physical assaults, 10 sexual assaults and three rape cases.

Ms 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-centered approach and effective response to GBV in Katsina State.”

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

The commissioner added, “The urgency of addressing GBV in Katsina State cannot be overstated. Therefore, the role of cultural norms, poverty, lack of education and insecurity in perpetuating GBV should not be ignored. We are making an effort to ensure adequate social investments for empowerment, awareness campaigns, capacity-building initiatives, and legal reforms aimed at preventing GBV and supporting survivors.”

Ms Musa-Musawa added that the establishment of the special and mobile courts was on the way to ensure a high conviction rate with justice served to survivors within a short period of time.

 She said, “Addressing GBV requires collective action and commitment from all sectors of society. Government agencies, NGOs, community leaders, and individuals must work together to challenge harmful cultural norms, strengthen support services, and promote gender equality. Collaboration is essential to ensure a unified and effective response to GBV, maximising resources and impact.”

(NAN)