As part of efforts to address the rate of abuse in the state, the Niger state government has trained over fifty desk officers to guide victims/survivors of Gender Based Violence (GBV) to seek justice across the state.
State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajia Titi Auta disclosed at a one day workshop for Desk officers from various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), organised by the Ministry and supported by Global Promoters for Community Initiative (GPCI) that every case brought to the Ministry will henceforth be treated squarely.
According to her “it will no longer be business as usual, in the Ministry we have resolved that every case brought to us must be treated accordingly.
“We are training these officers to help survivors and victims seek justice. Whatever anybody does, we will take it up with the person; we have taken some persons to court, it is only that the society is not helping matters by seeking ‘out of court settlement’.
Earlier, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Hadiza Mohammed Shiru said the workshop would aid GBV officers on how to help survivors seek for justice.
According to her “we saw the need to upgrade the skills of he GBV Desk officers that we have across the MDAs so that they will be abreast with the new innovations on reporting in the dashboard and in line with global best practices.”
While disclosing that GBV occur everyday at the work places, homes and other places, she urged survivors and victims to speak out and seek for counselling.
During her presentation, the Director, Planning, Research and Statistics of the Ministry, Mrs. Mary Yisa urged participants not to discriminate in the cause of their duty saying “abuse can be from either gender to the other gender and all cases must be treated according to the law.
“We are hoping that the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) law becomes effective and also looking forward to having special courts to treat cases and expedite judgement in the state”.
In his goodwill message, the State Coordinator, GPCI, Mr. Kalejaiye Olasukanmi urged the officers to be prudent and fair in discharging their duties.
He added that “in handling cases of gender based violence, nobody should be biased. And do not handle any case with levity”.