The Kano State Government has launched an initiative aimed at preventing and responding to gender-based violence (GBV) against women involved in agriculture and strengthening their protection across agricultural value chains.
The intervention, implemented in collaboration with development partners, seeks to integrate GBV prevention and response measures into women’s economic activities, particularly agriculture, where women play significant roles in production and value addition.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs, Children and Persons with Special Needs, Hajiya Sajja Amina-Abdullahi, disclosed this on Tuesday at the project’s inception meeting and launch in Kano.
Amina-Abdullahi said the initiative aligned with the state’s Women Economic Empowerment (WEE) policy, which seeks to increase women’s economic participation through agriculture, skills acquisition and other livelihood opportunities.
She disclosed that the state government had so far empowered 5,200 women through various skills development programmes, while development partners, including the African Enterprise Challenge Fund (AECF), Development Research and Projects Centre (dRPC), Fable Foundation and Isa Wali Empowerment Initiative, had supported women in agriculture and other economic activities.
According to the commissioner, the new intervention would address violence, discrimination and violations of women’s rights while strengthening mechanisms for reporting and responding to GBV cases.
She said the Ministry of Women Affairs had designated three GBV desk officers to coordinate prevention and response activities, urging women to report cases to enable the government to provide support to survivors and maintain accurate records.
Kano Launches Initiative to Protect Women Farmers From Gender-Based ViolenceThe Kano State Government has launched an initiative aimed at preventing and responding to gender-based violence (GBV) against women involved in agriculture and strengthening their protection across agricultural value chains.
The intervention, implemented in collaboration with development partners, seeks to integrate GBV prevention and response measures into women’s economic activities, particularly agriculture, where women play significant roles in production and value addition.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs, Children and Persons with Special Needs, Hajiya Sajja Amina-Abdullahi, disclosed this on Tuesday at the project’s inception meeting and launch in Kano.
Amina-Abdullahi said the initiative aligned with the state’s Women Economic Empowerment (WEE) policy, which seeks to increase women’s economic participation through agriculture, skills acquisition and other livelihood opportunities.
She disclosed that the state government had so far empowered 5,200 women through various skills development programmes, while development partners, including the African Enterprise Challenge Fund (AECF), Development Research and Projects Centre (dRPC), Fable Foundation and Isa Wali Empowerment Initiative, had supported women in agriculture and other economic activities.
According to the commissioner, the new intervention would address violence, discrimination and violations of women’s rights while strengthening mechanisms for reporting and responding to GBV cases.
She said the Ministry of Women Affairs had designated three GBV desk officers to coordinate prevention and response activities, urging women to report cases to enable the government to provide support to survivors and maintain accurate records.
Amina-Abdullahi also appealed to traditional and community leaders to speak out against violence against women and discourage the stigmatisation of survivors.
She cited the case of a woman who sustained burns after allegedly being attacked with hot water by her husband, saying the ministry intervened to secure medical attention and protect her rights.
“With the consent of the state government, the ministry has taken measures to protect her rights and ensure that she receives the necessary medication,” she said.
The Technical Adviser on the dRPC project, Nafisa Ado, said the intervention would engage traditional leaders, community members and beneficiaries of AECF-supported initiatives in selected communities.
Ado said the project was expected to reach 16,000 people, including 285 traditional leaders who would be trained and 460 gender champions who would be engaged to raise awareness about violence against women, girls and children.
She identified Rano, Bebeji and Dawakin Kudu among the communities covered by the initiative, adding that the project would focus on strengthening community-based mechanisms for preventing and responding to GBV.
Women engaged in agricultural value-chain activities also participated in the launch, where discussions focused on preventing violence and strengthening support systems for women within their communities.
Amina-Abdullahi also appealed to traditional and community leaders to speak out against violence against women and discourage the stigmatisation of survivors.
She cited the case of a woman who sustained burns after allegedly being attacked with hot water by her husband, saying the ministry intervened to secure medical attention and protect her rights.
“With the consent of the state government, the ministry has taken measures to protect her rights and ensure that she receives the necessary medication,” she said.
The Technical Adviser on the dRPC project, Nafisa Ado, said the intervention would engage traditional leaders, community members and beneficiaries of AECF-supported initiatives in selected communities.
Ado said the project was expected to reach 16,000 people, including 285 traditional leaders who would be trained and 460 gender champions who would be engaged to raise awareness about violence against women, girls and children.
She identified Rano, Bebeji and Dawakin Kudu among the communities covered by the initiative, adding that the project would focus on strengthening community-based mechanisms for preventing and responding to GBV.
Women engaged in agricultural value-chain activities also participated in the launch, where discussions focused on preventing violence and strengthening support systems for women within their communities.
