4000 cases of violence against women and children have been recorded in Kano in the last five years by the WARAKA Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) in Kano state alone. This is coming as the Centre also called for establishment of Special Courts for Sexual Violence.
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The data was made public by the on Thursday by the Chairman SARC Steering Committee, Barr Sanusi Aliyu Yakasai at a press conference for the commemoration of 16 days of activism for elimination of Gender Based Violence Kano State.
“Since inception the centre has recorded over 4000 and still counting cases of sexual violence mostly against young children below the age of 13 years.
“With its growing population which has made Kano state cosmopolitan, thereby increasing the tendencies of exposing the most vulnerable members of the society comprising of women and girls at risk of being abused.
“For example, Dala LGA which the most populous in the state, in recent times has recorded high rate of incidences of violence against women and children especially rape cases.
“This is closely followed by Kumbotso, Nasarawa, Tarauni and other metropolitan LGAs in the state” he stated.
Speaking on the challenges in the fight against sexual violence, the committee chairman mentioned how silence and stigma as a result of such incidence have worsen the situation while he called on the Kano state government to establish special courts for sexual violence cases to enhance the fight against the crime.
“Yet for far too long, impunity, silence, stigma, have allowed violence against women to escalate to pandemic proportions.
“I will like to use this opportunity to call on the administration of Kano state government under the leadership of Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje to establish special courts to handle SGBV cases” he stated.
The event held collaboration with the GBV Response Team, Free Legal Aid Service Providers and also in partnership with Rule of Law and Anti Corruption (RoLAC) program.
Annually, the global community marks the 25th November, as the International Day for the elimination of Violence against Women and Girls.
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