The Kano State Coordinator of the National Council for Child Rights Advocates of Nigeria (NCCRAN), Hajiya Aisha Haruna Kabuga, has stressed the need for governments at all levels to establish a mini court that would resolve and settle amicably the issue of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) within families.
Making this known on Wednesday, Hajiya Aisha, during a roundtable discussion on GBV and other issues affecting families, said that dragging GBV cases before conventional courts may compound an already worsened situation.
She, however, pointed out that the issue of GBV has destroyed many families and led to untold hardship between husbands, wives, and children, hence the need to handle it with the utmost attention.
She therefore emphasised that her organisation has handled no fewer than 120 cases of GBV.
“Our organisation was able to educate and stress the importance of resolving conflicts between the aggrieved family members and the side effects of allowing the issue to escalate to the point of separation.”
Hajiya Aisha added that as a result of their intervention, many families have accepted reconciliation and are now living peacefully together because the organisation followed up with visits to them.
Hajiya Aisha, however, highlighted that most relatives of both husband and wife often compound the grievance by insisting on dragging the GBV cases before the law court.
According to her, the way forward in finding a lasting solution to GBV is for the government to intervene by educating and enlightening members of the community on the need to maintain peace.
She also added that without government intervention, it would be nearly impossible for civil society organisations and other bodies to effectively tackle the issue, as it is highly technical and cumbersome.
Hajiya Aisha also disclosed that her organisation had gathered some stakeholders, human rights activists, and community leaders to discuss how to address the issue of GBV.
With the level of participants, which cuts across all segments of society, they would be able to preach the need to avoid GBV to members in their respective areas.
(Tribune)
