In an attempt to support increased access to justice and accountability in cases of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, SGBV, three communities in Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State have donated land spaces for building of the safe spaces.
Salama News reports that the land was donated to a non-governmental organization, International Alert, who are working in collaboration with Global Peace Development to establish a safe spaces centres within the communities.
Speaking during a thank you visit to the community leaders at the weekend, the Senior Project Officer in Kaduna State, Mr. Sunday Jimoh, commended them for the willingness to donate the parcels of land where the projects will be sited.
Jimoh also lauded the leaders for recognizing the key roles women play both in their homes and their communities.
He said besides counselling and psycho-social assistance for victims of SGBV, the spaces will also afford women the opportunity to discuss critical issues that concern them, as well as a referral center for victims of other forms of abuse.
The Senior Project Officer said the project, which is being implemented in Kaduna and Zamfara States, will also be used as skills acquisition centers for women, even as he expressed hope that government and other development agencies will key into the program to achieve more result.
Earlier, the District Head of Kafanchan Kewaye, Mr. Saidu Umar, appreciated the NGOs for the gesture, which he noted will help curb domestic and other forms of violence against especially women.
Mr. Umar expressed optimism that the setting up of safe spaces will help foster peace in homes, as it will avail women open up about issues that affect them in their homes.
Also in their separate remarks, the Village Heads of Goska and Dangoma, Mr. Austin Kube and Alhaji Damina Waje, also expressed gratitude to the NGOs for the initiative, and said when eventually the centers train women in various trades, it will make them self-reliant.
They assured of maximum cooperation in future engagements, in view of the enormous benefits that will be derived by the benefitting communities.
