NGO holds community-based dialogue on SGBV prevention in Zamfara

From Ibrahim Sidi Muh’d, Gusau

A Zamfara-based Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), Voluntary Aid Initiative (VAI) held dialogue simultaneously in four communities of the state on identifying and adopting best ways to prevent Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV).
This was disclosed by the NGOs Project Officer, Mr Buhari Moriki, in a press conference in Gusau.
Moriki said the dialogue meetings were held at Tsafe, Bilbis, Birnin-Magaji and Nasarawa-Godel communities in Birnin-Magaji and Tsafe local government areas.
The officer added that “the meetings were conducted in collaboration with a partnering NGO, International Alert, being funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID).
“The initiative was part of the project’s aimed to promote stability, access to justice and accountability in North West region.”
He noted that participants in the dialogue were the religious leaders, youths, persons with disability, women groups, and community-based organisations.
He explained that participants were sensitized on SGBV, the effects and preventive measures.
“They were also sensitized on how to support survivors of SGBV to speak up and dismiss fear of stigmatisation for justice,” he explained.
Moriki, has however, called for cohesion among various institutions and individuals working in the human rights space towards eradicating Gender-Based Violence, especially at the community level.