Ending Gender Based Violence in Sokoto requires collective effort – Official
BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto –
Sokoto state Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, Barrister Aisha Dantsoho, has called on all stakeholders to work in synergy towards ending Gender Based Violence (GBV), harmful practices, violence against women and girls in the state.
The Permanent Secretary, who spoke at the Sokoto Women Development Center at the ongoing 2022 Spotlight Initiative Joint Monitoring Visit from Abuja, added that no single individual, NGO or the ministry either would have gotten to this point without the collaboration of all.
She also thanked the UN-Spotlight Initiative and every other donors for their commitment to a safe world for all, especially, the women and girls.
Representative of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, (National Planning Arm), Dr Olusola Akintola applauded the implementing partners of Spotlight Initiative in Sokoto for their dedication.
Dr Olusola also thanked implementing partners in Sokoto for engaging the media, adding however, that they should do more in ensuring that their success stories are told consistently aside internal review of their activities.
Speaking on her part, one of the members of Civil Society Reference Group from Abuja, Barrister Rhoda Prevail Tyodea noted that the issue of GBV must not be taken for granted.
Giving an overview of their assessment of Spotlight Initiative Implementing Partners in Sokoto, the Representative of UN-Partner from Abuja, Mr Yinka Akin said the meeting was geared towards reviewing their findings, do comparative analysis, put up recommendations and the way forward.
Yinka said the overall objective of the visit is to provide recommendation for improvement and not to witch hunt anyone.
He further stressed that the visit has cooperative, participatory, comparative analysis, culture of fairness and transparency, no fault finding mission as well as promote learning.
He noted that the six pillars of Spotlight Initiative is geared towards,” A Nigeria where all women and girls are free from violence and harmful practices.
Yinka further appealed to all Project Monitoring Units in Sokoto to develop sustainability plan that includes an exit strategy, with support from Civil Society Organizations reference groups and other stakeholders.