By Joy Gadani :
The Chairman, Kaduna North Local Government Area (LGA),Hon Muktar Baloni has commended the Rise Up activities being implemented by Africa Media Development Foundation (AMDF). The project is aimed at ensuring the prevention of Gender Based Violence (GBV) in the LGA.
He stated this during an advocacy visit by the AMDF Rise Up project team, as part of its activities in the implementation of its project “Prevention of Gender Based Violence in 12 Kaduna Communities”.
The chairman affirmed that GBV cases are prevalent in the project selected communities, and that the Leadership of Council is committed to support the project to ensure an end to Violence against women and girls in the LGA “we are always willing to partner in things like this, this is a noble cause” he said.
The chairman further stated that despite the severity of the issue, cases of sexual violence remain underreported, “rape is a very big problem but it is grossly underreported, we want to change that, and from our part, we want to make it a form of pet project”, he said.
Speaking on behalf of the team, the project manager, Benjamin Maigari congratulated the Chairman of his recent victory at local government polls.
He said the team was in his office to inform him of its activities within the local government and also to seek his support towards the community based action volunteers.
Maigari explained that the project seeks to get the approval of the state government to formulate policy that would see to the formation of the COMBAV teams in the state with the pilot in 12 communities.
The Advocacy coordinator, Mrs Sekyen Dadik appreciated the chairman’s commitment towards ensuring an end to GBV.
She said it is encouraging to know that the council has set up a system towards ending violence against women and girls ” I am particularly glad that you are looking at the home front, because if we get it right at the home, then, definitely our society will get it well” she remarked.