A non-governmental organisation, Voluntary Aid Initiative (VAI) charged four communities in Zamfara state to address harmful cultural norms and practices that promote sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV).
The NGO gave the charge, Thursday, during a sensitisation in Tsafe, Bilbis, Birnin Magaji and Nasarawa Godel communities of Birnin Magaji and Tsafe local government areas of the state in collaboration with UKAID funded organisation, International Alert, under the Promoting Stability, Access to Justice and Accountability project.
Speaking at Bilbis and Tsafe communities, the Executive Director of VAI, Musa Umar urged the participants to change harmful cultural norms and practices with a view to reducing SGBV in the society.
The theme of the sensitisation programme was “Develop and Support Implementation of Community-Based Initiatives to address Harmful Cultural Norms and Practices that Promotes SGBV.”
Umar, who appreciated the turnout of the participants, urged them to extend the message to their respective homes and localities.
One of the participants, Malam Hamisu Bilbis, described the sensitisation as a welcome development.
“We appreciate this sensitization, we believe this will increase our awareness as well as protect our children and women against GBV.”
The Project Officer of VAI, Mr. Buhari Yau Moriki, who led the sensitisation team for Birnin Magaji and Nasarawa Godel communities, said it was aimed to raise people’s awareness on how to change their cultural norms and practices that cause SGBV.
