Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA) organized a national dialogue to offer solutions to violence against women and girls in collaboration with Bayero University, Kano (BUK) Centre for Islamic Civilization and Interfaith Dialogue (CICID) (VAWG).
The theme of the dialogue is “Supporting Social Norms Changes and Scaling Up Accountability Commitment Towards Curbing the Prevalence of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG): Moving from Rhetoric to Action.”
On Tuesday in Kano, 100 interfaith and cultural leaders from across the country took part in the program.
Justice Fati Abubakar, the founder and Chairman of the WRAPA Board of Trustees, stated that the selection of Interfaith and Cultural Leaders is critical given the organization’s over 22-year efforts and campaigns to reduce the prevalence of VAWG.
Mrs Abubakar also stated that WRAPA would continue to assist survivors in seeking justice, either directly or indirectly through advocacy for legal reform.
“Religious, Traditional Leaders and Institutions are deeply rooted at all social levels in all communities,” she said.
“They command respect, trust and loyalty enabling them to exercise acceptable albeit limited sanctions for social deviations by members in their domains or congregations.
“It is also my appeal that you continue to commit to supporting survivors of violence in private and public spaces by strengthening their abilities and voices to speak out, seek help and access justice.
“We must move from rhetoric to action with everyone playing their roles to achieve as well as demonstrate zero tolerance to Violence Against Women and Girls and its consequences,” he said.
In his remarks, Prof. Sagir Adamu-Abbas, Vice Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano (BUK), represented by Dr Sani Gumel, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academics, stated that the program would help to strengthen unity and curb the menace in society.
“The National Dialogue is in conformity with the vision and mission of the university to lead in research and education in Africa and commitment to addressing African development challenges,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of traditional rulers, Alhaji Umar Musa, Chief of Ninzo in Kaduna state’s Sanga Local Government, said traditional rulers have a lot to do to combat the menace in their respective areas.
He praised the WRAPA’s efforts and promised to continue supporting it in order to meet the goal.
Hajiya Saudatu Shehu, Secretary-General of WRAPA, has called for harsher punishment of perpetrators to serve as a deterrent to others.
Shehu stated that women require special attention in society and urged society to eliminate negative stereotypes about women while continuing to protect their rights.
Both Christian and Islamic clerics presented papers on the causes of the threat as well as the way forward.
