Isiyaku Ahmed
In a renewed effort to combat gender-based violence (GBV) and improve support for survivors, the Kano State Ministry of Women Affairs, Children, and Persons with Special Needs, on Thursday, organized a technical review workshop on the GBV referral pathway and the development of a standard operating procedure (SOP), culminating in a multi-stakeholder validation exercise.
The review workshop brought together stakeholders from government institutions, civil society organizations, security agencies, media, and the justice sector to examine key guidelines and fine-tune the SOP designed to strengthen GBV response systems.
The initiative, which was supported by the Rule of Law and Anti-corruption Program (RoLAC II), funded by the European Union and implemented by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA), is seen as a major step toward improving coordination among service providers, ensuring timely responses, and expanding access to justice, healthcare, and psychosocial support for victims across the state.
In his welcome remarks, the RoLAC II State Coordinator, Mallam Ibrahim Bello, underscored the urgency of addressing sexual assault and other forms of GBV, describing them as persistent challenges affecting communities.
He explained that the meeting was convened to harmonise the efforts of practitioners, activists, and service providers to build a coordinated framework that enhances response mechanisms and service delivery for survivors.
Mallam Bello noted that participants were carefully selected to ensure broad representation, including non-governmental organizations, state agencies, the judiciary, and the Ministry of Justice. He commended stakeholders for their commitment and active participation.
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According to him, deliberations focused on reviewing an already robust guideline that requires refinement and wider endorsement. He added that the process would ultimately lead to the adoption of a comprehensive SOP to guide GBV interventions in Kano State.
To fast-track the process, a zero draft of the SOP was prepared by a consultant, Fatima Ahmed, whose expertise informed why she was engaged.
The draft was subjected to detailed scrutiny, critique, and validation by participants.
The RoLAC II State Coordinator said the approach mirrors previous successful reforms, such as the development of the state correctional service law, where stakeholder inputs played a key role in shaping the final document.
He expressed optimism that the collaborative effort would produce a practical and inclusive framework capable of strengthening institutional responses to GBV.
Representing the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Child and Persons with Special Needs, Hajiya Amina Abdullahi, the Acting Permanent Secretary, Muhammed Sambo Iliyasu, described the workshop as timely and commended RoLAC for its support.
The Commissioner noted that the intervention aligns with the priorities of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s administration in strengthening support systems for GBV survivors.
Highlighting recent efforts by the state government, she disclosed that over 400 GBV survivors had been empowered, while budgetary allocation for GBV interventions was increased from N30 million to N200 million in the current fiscal year.
Hajia Amina Abdullahi explained that the referral pathway provides a structured mechanism for managing GBV cases originating from communities and public spaces, including schools.
“Survivors will now know where, how, and when to report cases for appropriate services. This will also enhance the chances of perpetrators being apprehended, prosecuted, and punished,” he said.
Speaking on the technical aspect of the initiative, the SOP consultant, Fatima Ahmed, emphasized the importance of establishing a clear and structured framework to guide GBV response.
She explained that while referral pathways are essential, there is a need for a detailed procedure that defines the roles and responsibilities of all service providers involved.
According to her, the SOP will serve as a guiding document to ensure coordinated and efficient service delivery, enabling stakeholders to respond more effectively to cases of GBV.
Ahmed further revealed that implementation and oversight of the SOP would be handled by a Technical Working Group Committee under the Ministry of Women’s Affairs.
She said the committee would be responsible for reviewing the referral pathway, coordinating service providers, and managing data related to GBV cases.
Describing the validation meeting as a starting point, Ahmed stressed that the success of the initiative depends largely on effective implementation.
She added that the establishment of the Technical Working Group Committee is intended to ensure that the policies and frameworks developed are translated into concrete action.
Stakeholders at the workshop, who spoke to Stallion Times, made a renewed commitment to work collaboratively toward reducing GBV and improving support systems for survivors across Kano State.
