UNFPA develops 3-year roadmap to end gender-based violence
Story from Usman IBRAHIM, Yola
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Nigeria in conjunction with other strategic partners has developed a roadmap for 2022 to 2025 aimed at facilitating the end of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in the North East region.
The Fund’s Country Representative, Mrs Ulla Mueller, made this known during a strategic task team meeting to develop the roadmap in Yola.
Mueller disclosed that one in three women in Nigeria gets exposed to GBV, adding that the roadmap will be a yardstick for states, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), and relevant communities to fight the menace.
“It is a collaboration where we work with the police, Ministry of Justice, and every one to ensure access to justice in ending GBV,” she said.
Mueller appreciated the contributions of the participants and called on stakeholders to work hard to end GBV in the region.
In her presentation, Hira Hashmey, UNFPA’s GBV Subsector Coordinator, said that the DNA Forensic Laboratory in Yola
received 67 samples from GBV survivors in its quest to get justice for them.
She said that out of the 67 samples, 38 samples were analysed for rape, 33 were processed and three convictions were achieved.
In her address, Mrs Merry Paninga, the Permanent Secretary of the Adamawa Planning Commission, said the state government is committed to the fight against GBV.
Paninga said the government appreciates the efforts of UNFPA in providing a forensic laboratory in the state, adding that there are plans to have a technology-based method of data collection that can easily be accessed.
The Commissioner of Police (CP) in Adamawa, Mr Sikiru Akande, said the police have also evolved a new strategy in dealing with GBV cases by training 10 women police officers to assist in accelerating access to justice for survivors of GBV.
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