The Federal government has inaugurated a steering committee in Kano State to fight against sexual assault and gender-based violence.
Inaugurating the committee in Kano yesterday, the Technical Assistant to the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, Hajiya Hadiza Aminu Dorayi, said that the fifteen-member committee was set up to help in dealing with cases of sexual assaults and gender-based violence against children and women in the state.
According to Hajiya Hadiza, Kano and Kaduna were the two states that was chosen in the northwest zone for the programme.
Hajiya Hadiza added that Kano was chosen because of its population and the concern its people showed on assault against children and women.
She said, “I have inaugurated the steering committee and met with its members in Kano and very soon, I will meet with members of the wider committee which has 30 members. Our aim is to reduce the rate of assault and violence against children and women in the country.”
The technical assistant noted that the members of the steering committee were selected from ministries of justice, health, women affairs, National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Kano State Hisbah Baord, Human Right Commission, Legal Aid Council and some nongovernmental organisations.
She also said that the office of the vice president was determined to support states’ governments in addressing issues related to child and women assaults.
She said, “We were attracted to Kano state by the case of Baby Khadija and the peaceful protest against assault on children and women which was some women groups organised in the state sometimes last year.
“If the citizens can organise themselves and stage a peaceful protest against assault on children and women, I see no reason why we should not support them. We are working with some donor agencies and we will make the programme to be sustainable.”
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