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By Bashir Bello, KANO

Centre for Information Technology and Development, CITAD has said that sexual harassment ranks top among other Gender-Based Violence, GBV cases highly perpetrated in Kano State.

The Centre’s Gender Officer, Zainab Aminu stated this during it monthly GBV briefing after deploying an android app in August to track and monitor GBV incidences recorded in the state.

Aminu said a comparison of reports the centre received through the app in the months of September and October shows that sexual harassment remains a highly reported case.

She however called on the state government to as a matter of urgency domesticate the Child Rights Act and VAPP Act in order to curb the menace in the state.

According to Aminu, “The cases highly reported is Sexual Harassment. The perpetrators are mostly male.

“In September, a number of sexual harassment cases reported stands at 18 while in October, 8 cases were reported with 56% decline. Furthermore, Sexual Harassment still remains the case with the highest number of perpetrations.

“For sexual abuse, we had 14 cases in September and 4 cases in October with 71% decline. Other cases like wife battering and social media GBV have no reported cases in October.

“Although there is a visible decline in reported cases of all forms of GBV, we still observe perpetration of GBV within the state. This shows that there is still a need for actions to be taken in terms of Gender-Based Violence in the state in order to eliminate/curb GBV.

“Gender-Based violence is a harmful act being inflicted at individuals based on their gender. GBV is a serious violation of human rights and a life-threatening health and protection issue.

“As part of its continuing effort to curb GBV in the society and to promote the wellbeing of women and girl child, including creating a safe and secure educational environment, the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) with support from Ford Foundation has been implementing a project titled “Strengthening Citizens Response and Protection Against Gender-Based Violence in Kano, Nigeria” whose aim is to achieve a safe society for women and girls, free from gender violence and discrimination to bridge the gender gap in girl child education, allowing for the attainment of gender parity in educational accomplishments.

“We recommend that the Kano State Government and House of Assembly domesticate the Child Rights Act and VAPP Act at the state level because if implemented, will contribute in curbing this (GBV) menace.

“Similarly, religious and traditional leaders both at state and local levels should continuously intensify efforts in creating awareness and to work with different authorities in curtailing the menace of GBV in the state. We also call on Institutions of higher learning in the state to all develop and implement gender policy and create appropriate mechanisms for victims and others to report such incidences to the authorities.

“Equally, the state government should not only adopt laws to protect women and girls, but also establish Referral Centers and Forensic Centers for victims.

“We also urged the Media houses to continue to use their platforms in creating awareness against GBV and be reporting punishments done to perpetrators of GBV instead of focusing on the victims of GBV cases,” Aminu however stated.