‘Kano registered more than 4,000 cases of sexual violence in five years’

A Kano-based non-governmental organization, Bridge Connect Africa Initiative, has said that over 4,000 cases of sexual violence have been committed in Kano State in the past five years.

The group’s Chief Operating Officer, Fatima Musa Aliyu, made this known at the launch of the Women Against Violence Empowerment through Sustainability (WAVES) project – a five-month capacity building initiative aimed at supporting survivors of gender-based violence, those those risks and women involved in small scale farming in Kano State.

She said: “We are committed to protecting women and girls from all forms of violence. Over the past five years, BCAI has been a leading advocate for women and girls in Kano State, addressing gender-based violence and other harmful practices that disproportionately affect them.

“Supported by the Government of Canada through the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CPRLI), the WAVES project aims to foster a thriving ecosystem of empowered women in Kano, promote economic security and combat Gender-Based Violence (GBV) through through training in GBV prevention, financial literacy, business development and sustainable agricultural practices.

“According to UNICEF, women and girls face significant gender inequality, with 1 in 3 women reporting experiences of GBV. Between November 2022 and February 2023, the Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) recorded 171 cases of GBV.

“According to another report by the International Federation of Women Lawyers, Kano State Chapter, the Kano State WARAKA Sexual Violence Referral Center has documented over 4,000 cases of sexual violence in the last five years.”

She added that evidence shows that societal norms, economic challenges and even climate change are among the factors that trap many women in cycles of poverty and dependency, increasing their risk of gender-based violence.

While some try to survive through small-scale farming, their efforts are often hampered by limited skills and market access, leading to continued vulnerability and exploitation.