Rape: Jigawa Govt to establish more sexual assault referral centres

Jigawa Govt to establish additional sexual assault referral centres
By Muhammad Nasir Bashir
Rape
Dutse, June 3, 2018 (NAN) The Jigawa State Government on Sunday said it would establish additional Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) to cater for rape victims in the state.
The state’s Head of Civil Service (HoS), Alhaji Muhammad Tahir, disclosed this when he received the Country Director, Pathfinder International, Dr Farouk Mahmud, in Dutse.
Alhaji Isma’il Ibrahim, the Spokesman of the Office of the HoS, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday that the visit was an advocacy to scale up public awareness on the high rate of sexual assault in the state.
Ibrahim said that the state government had been working closely with security agencies, traditional rulers, Council of Ulamah (Islamic clerics) and other related organisations to eradicate Gender Based Violence in the state.
He added that the government would ensure timely prosecution of those involved in the menace.
He said that the state would continue to partner with Pathfinder to curb violence against women in the state.
The spokesman stated that the Pathfinder country director had earlier told the HoS that they were seeking government support to eradicate domestic violence in the state.
According to him, Mahmud noted that the Pathfinder is an NGO working towards changing and saving the lives of women and their families throughout developing countries by increasing access to essential reproductive health services.
“The Country Director further told the HoS that the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) through Pathfinder Nigeria is aimed at strengthening the response to Gender Based Violence in the country.
“And also by providing financial and technical assistance to already established sexual assault referral centre in the state and to support the establishment of additional ones.
“He also noted with dismay the high rate of sexual assault in the state and the country at large,” the spokesman said.
Ibrahim added that Mahmud appealed to the state government to ensure steady supply of drugs for Gender Based Violence survivors.
NAN reports that a pilot SARC was established in 2016 by Jigawa government in collaboration with the Department for International Development (DFID), under its Justice for All (J4A) programme.
The SARC was established at the General Hospital, Dutse, Dutse Local Government Area of the state.
The centre was established to provide counseling services to victims of rape by members of staff of the state Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.
The centre would also serve as an avenue where evidence could be established against rapists.
Also, the Jigawa State Justice Sector and Law Reform Commission said it would establish additional SARCs in the three senatorial districts of the state.
The Executive Secretary of the commission, Mr Lawan Buba, made this known in an interview with NAN in Dutse on July 31, 2017.
“As you know, rape is on the alarming rate not only in Jigawa, Nigeria, but also globally and in most cases, it is very difficult to prove such cases in court.
“So, parents of rape victims should not wash the genital part of their children until they report such incident to the police in their respective communities.
“We always tell parents of rape victims that the first point of report should be to the police.
“This is because the police are the institution responsible for taking up and processing justice on behalf of such victims by arresting, investigating and taking the perpetrator to court for trial.
“It will enable health workers to confirm the truth or otherwise of the situation when police take the victim to the hospital or health centre,’’ he said.
“At the centre a medical doctor would examine the victim and give a report which would be used against the rapist.
“Therefore, all parents or guardians of such victims should desist from keeping the matter quiet.
“Most parents keep mute thinking that they are protecting the rape victims from stigma,” Buba stressed. (NAN)
MNB/FAT/MST
Edited by Fatima Sule/Muhammad Suleiman Tola