By Sani Idris

The Kaduna State chapter of the National Working Group for the Implementation of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law, has urged the state government to increase its budget allocation to end violence against women and girls in the state.

The National Working Group, is supported by Women Advocate Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC) and African Women's Development Fund (AWDF) and led by Legal Awareness for Nigerian Women (LAWN).

It is also in collaboration with other women-led CSOs which include the Kaduna State Coalition Against Gender based Violence, Gender Awareness Trust, Centre for Study and Resolution of Domestic Violence and the Grassroot Vision for Women Development Initiative.

Mrs Hannatu Ahuwan, the Acting Executive Director of LAWN, made the call while addressing a press briefing as part of commemoration of the global campaign of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence on Tuesday in Kaduna.

Ahuwan lamented that Gender-Based Violence (GBV) remains a significant concern for women and girls in Kaduna State.

She said that recent data indicates that approximately eight out of 10 women and girls in Kaduna the state experience some form of GBV.

According to her, factors such as poverty, limited education, and lack of financial independence contribute to women and girls vulnerability, however few successes in prosecution of perpetrators.

Ahuwan explained that GBV is presented in different forms which include; physical violence/assault, rape, sexual abuse and harassment, abandonment and forceful eviction.

She said others include economic violence, political violence, intimate partner violence, verbal, psychological and emotional abuse among others.

Ahuwan, however, said the efforts of government must be recognised such as domestication of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law and amendment of some provisions of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law for rape.

She also said that the government's provision of support services through the establishment of five Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) situated in the 4 major general hospitals in the state and one mobile is commendable.

She equally said other efforts include the development of a Sexual Harassment Policy for the Kaduna State University (KASU) and building and fully equipping the One-Stop Shelter.

The Acting Executive Director, however, said a cursory look at the just approved Kaduna State 2025 budget with a reflection of the 2024 performance does not show a commitment to addressing the issues of GBV in the state.

"Although there are budget heads for the Sexual Referral Centres and for shelter operation in the budget for the Ministry for Human Services and Social Development (MHSSD), nothing was released in 2024.

"Other MDAs who also have a remit do addressing Gender Based Violence like the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education do not have any budget lines to that regard.

"Tackling GBV is not one person’s or ministry’s business. a coordinated approach is needed, considering that GBV has become a menace in our society and communities,"she said.

She therefore, urged Governor Uba Sani to prioritise support for GBV interventions and especially releases as well as enforcing a proper coordination mechanism for GBV intervention.

She emphasised that without cash backing, merely earmarking budget lines is not enough.

Ahuwan said releases for the provision for the Sexual Assault Referral Centres and Shelter Operation as included in the Budget of the MHSSD should be given utmost attention and priority so that support services would be provided by the SARCs and the shelter can be operationalised.

She equally called on the MHSSD to prioritise and budget for sensitisation and awareness creation as seen in budgets of other MDAs.

"We are calling on the state government and relevant MDAs to be intentional in providing budget heads that speak to GBV as we have for HIV Intervention Fund, Maternal and neo-natal Child Health (MnCH), Repatriation of Foster and Destitute Children and PWDs and Female Education Expenses, among others".