![Zamfara: CSOs advocates for constant capacity building for judges on SGBV cases, HOTPEN](https://hotpen.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG-20240606-WA0006.jpg)
By Adam Muhammad, Gusau
The Network of Civil Society Organisations on Sexual Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in Zamfara state has called on the state government to improve capacity building and constant sensitization training for judges in the state on treatment of SGBV cases.
Chairperson of the network, Dr Ahmad Hashim, made the call in Gusau at the second quarterly meeting of the CSOs, organised by Voluntary Aid Initiative (VAI), an NGO based in the state Thursday.
The meeting was organized by the VAI in collaboration with the International Alert an NGO being funded by the UK International Development.
Hashim noted that by improving the capacity building awareness campaign of judges in courts will pave way for easy prosecution of SGBV cases in the state.
Hashim, who lamented what he termed “increasing cases of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in the state, stressed the need for establishing mobile courts in resolving many cases with ease.
“On behalf of the network of NGOs, CSOs, CBOs in the state, we are appealing to the state government to enhance capacity building for our judges so that the impact will promote fight against SGBV in the state.
“We are also calling on the state government to ensure full implementation of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law as it has already been domesticated in the state”. He added.
“We want full implementation of the law, as we all know the content of the law will go along way in the fight against GBV”.
He also stressed the need for establishing GBV Survivors Trust Fund with a view to provide financial and moral support to survivors.
Also speaking, the Chairperson of the International Federation of Female Lawyers (FIDA) Zamfara branch, Hajiya Amina Sanchi called for more sensitization on reporting SGBV cases.
Sanchi assured that FIDA was ever ready to provide legal and Psycho-social support to the SGBV survivors.
Earlier, the Executive Director of VAI, Mr. Musa Umar, said the meeting was part of UK International Development funded project aimed at promoting stability, access to justice and accountability in the North West.
He noted that the VAI, with support from International Alert, succeeded in the establishment of Four Women Safe Space Centres in Birnin-Magaji and Tsafe local government areas of the state.
“I believe this network will continue to link GBV survivors with medical, legal, security, psychosocial and empowerment support”, Umar said.
The meeting had participants from NGOs, CSOs and Community Based Organisations (CBOs), security agencies, Religious Bodies, Human Rights Commission and the media among others.