In an effort to mitigate the rampant cases of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in Yobe state, African Youth for Peace Development and Empowerment Foundation (AFRYDEV) in partnership with Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) has launched SGBV Response Committee in Potiskum Local Government Council of the state.
The programme which is funded by Open Society in West Africa (OSIWA) is geared towards building capacity of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), traditional and religious leaders so as to reduce the rising cases of rape especially among the minors.
Launching the programme, AFRYDEV Executive Director in the state, Maryam Aje, said the response committee was aimed at “strengthening prevention and response efforts through reporting, referrals and linkages for access and effective utilization of SGBV specialised services for survivors including; psycho-social support (PSS), medical-legal service, livelihood and economic empowerment.”
The acting local government chairman, Alhaji Mohammed M. B Disa, who officiated the inauguration of the committee lauded the initiative and expressed readiness of the local government to support the community response committee in its quest to complement government efforts to reduce menace of SGBV in Yobe state.
He further encouraged committee members to fear God in discharging their responsibilities by ensuring survivors are guided appropriately to access especially medical and legal services.
Yobe state had within last 12 months recorded over 88 cases of SGBV at the Sexual assaults referral centres established in the state.
