EU, NASFAT, vows to stop violence against women and girls in Sokoto

Gbolahan Salman Sokoto

A reputable Islamic group,  Nasirul Lahi Li Fati, NASFAT, in collaboration with European Union has partners on how to end violence against women and girls in the society.

The Islamic organization according to a press briefing to enlighten the public about the activities, described violence against women as barbaric, saying even in divorce, Islam teaches men to be just to their wives.

The text of the  press conference which was addressed by the National General Secretary of NASFAT, Alhaji Dauda Gbenga Sumonu, on behalf of the National President, said majority of violence against women and girls is caused by male folk.

He said the available data reveals that 35 percent of women worldwide have experienced violence either physical or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence, or both once in their life.

He further divulged, “One in four adolescent girls aged 15 to 19, about 24 percent of women in the world have experienced physical and/or sexual violence from an intimate partner or husband, while 137 women are killed by their family member every day.

“Coming home to Nigeria, the rape incidence of women in Nigeria in 2015 was 1031, it grew up to 1734 in 2016, 730 in 2018 and during the lockdown in 2020, 717 cases of rape was recorded between January and May, according to the Inspector General of Police.

“Similarly, In Sokoto State, according to the Commissioner for Women and Children affairs, Hajiya Kulu Sifawa stated that 411 reported cases of rape were recorded across the state in one year. Pitifully, fewer than 40 percent of the women who experienced violence seek help of any sort”

He however disclosed that to correct and put a stop to the menace, the EU supports five recipients UN organization to implement the Spotlight Initiative in Nigeria, aimed at ending all forms of violence against women and girls.

On this note, he said the UN expect Nasfat to help sensitize communities on Gender Based Violence (GBV), conduct religious seminars specifically targeting men, women and youth from different backgrounds and highlighting the effects and consequences of GBV.

The General Secretary however assured that for all these to be actualised, the organization have gone into strategic partnerships with government agencies and reputable NGOs and will also engage stakeholders in the 6 states that forms the focus the operation scattered across the six geo-political zones.

He said Nasfat is fully committed to end the  violence against women, which he prompt the organization to have since create a standing committee on violence against women in all its branches in the country.

He however advised members of the general public irrespective of their religious affiliation or ethnic background to make use of the toll-free number (+2347048115092) of the association to lodge their complaint related to GBV.

Also speaking, the programme manager of the project in the state, Abdulrazak Yahaya, disclosed that the three different local governments were choose in the state to pilot the programme.

He said correcting of unjust and bad attitude in the society is a collective effort of every responsible citizens of the country.

Other speakers include the state Zonal Chairman of Nasfat in the state Alhaji Muftau Osho, Alhaji Muhammad Abdullahi, former Vice President worldwide, Hajia Safiya Onimisi among Others.