A Zamfara-based NGO, “Voluntary Aid Initiative (VAI)” held dialogue in four communities of the state on prevention of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV).
The NGOs Project Officer, Mr Buhari Moriki, disclosed this at a news conference in Gusau on Monday.
Moriki said that the dialogue meetings were held at Tsafe, Bilbis, Birnin-Magaji and Nasarawa-Godel communities in Birnin-Magaji and Tsafe local government areas.
The officer added that the meetings were conducted in collaboration with another NGO, International Alert, being funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID).
He also mentioned that, the initiative was part of the project’s move to promote stability, access to justice and accountability in North West region.
He noted that participants in the dialogue included religious leaders, youths, persons with disability, women groups, and community-based organisations.
He explained that participants were sensitized on SGBV, the effects and preventive measures, as well as how to support survivors of SGBV to speak up and dismiss fear of stigmatization.
Moriki, however, called for cohesion among various institutions and individuals working in the human rights space toward eradicating Gender-Based Violence, especially at the community level.