Deputy Gov. Of sokoto State, Hon. Manir Dan'Iya and Sokoto State UNICEF Chief Of Feild office, Muhammadeen Fall at tge ongoing One day Quarterly Coordination Meeting on Ending GBV. PHOTOS BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, SOKOTO .
BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto –
The Sultanate Council has reiterated its commitment towards ensuring justice for survivors of all forms of gender based violence in Sokoto.
Giving this assurance during a quarterly coordination meeting on ending GBV organized by Sokoto State Ministry for Women and Children Affairs with support from the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative, the Sultan, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar 111 reaffirmed that any traditional leader found supporting perpetrator of GBV would have to be dethroned.
Sultan, who was represented by the Wazirin Sokoto, Prof Sambo Wali Junaidu said,” Sultanate Council will push to see that justice is upheld for survivors of GBV no matter how well placed is the perpetrator”.
“We will ensure adequate punitive measure for any traditional title holder who tries to truncate or hide perpetrator of violence against women and girls”. The Sultan said.
While highlighting the objectives of the meeting, The Sokoto UNICEF Child Protection Specialist, Pius Uwamanua, said they are here to strenghten collaboration towards ending GBV in the State.
Cross section of participants at the ongoing one day quarterly coordination meeting organized by Sokoto Ministry for Women and Children Affairs with support from EU-UN Spotlight Initiative. PHOTOS BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, SOKOTO
In her welcome address, The Sokoto State Commssioner for Women and Children Affairs, Hajiya Kulu Abdullahi Sifawa, said the meeting as organized by Spotlight Initiative in collaboration with her Ministry to help in ending GBV in the state.
According to her, the ministry is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that women and children in every part of the state are safe.
The commissioner, further, thanked all international donors, line MDAs, royal and religious leaders, CSOs as well as the media for their continued support without which their cherished successes would not have been possible.
In a goodwill message, The UNICEF Chief of Sokoto Field Office Muhammadeen Fall, said hence the rate of violence against women and girl child is alarmingly increasing, the fight towards ending it requires a collective effort.
“We all play vital roles in ensuring that norms and practices that are harmful are brought to an end. Over the years, the Sokoto State goverment has shown great collaboration in the release of their counterpart fundings
On his part, Speaker Sokoto State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Amimu Achida represented by the Deputy House Leader, Hon Abdullahi Zakari Rabah, disclosed that the Child Protection Law and VIolent Against Person Prohibition Law and all others that has to do with protection of humanity before the lawmakers has gone through first and second readings.
The Speaker, further, divulged that the laws would soon go through the third reading before passage soon.
Expressing his view on the issue, The Sokoto State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Suleiman Usman SAN, said anything that affects women is a direct assult on the society, hence women as mother’s, wives and home keepers must be protected at all times.