Katsina State Government has taken decisive action against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) following a two-day stakeholder workshop that brought together key players from across the justice system, civil society, and traditional institutions.
The Ministry of Women Affairs, in collaboration with the World Bank, organized the strategic workshop on June 17-18, 2025, to develop a coordinated approach to preventing and responding to GBV across the state.
“The workshop brought together key stakeholders from the justice system, HISBAH, NAPTIN, civil society organizations, and religious and traditional institutions,” said Hajiya Hadiza Yar’adua, Katsina State Commissioner for Women Affairs, who chaired the sessions.
Hajiya Hadiza maintained that comprehensive strategy emerging from the workshop includes expanding survivor support services, reactivating a 24/7 GBV hotline, and training women, including those with disabilities.
She added, “Participants also agreed on the critical need to simplify and translate the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law into local languages for better public accessibility.”
“We also agreed on the need to simplify and translate the VAPP Law to make it more accessible to the public. The strong support and active engagement of our traditional and religious leaders remain central to creating lasting change at the grassroots,” Commissioner Yar’adua explained.
Key resolutions from the workshop include developing state-wide GBV legislation, establishing additional Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs), and creating a Technical Working Group Data Hub for improved coordination. The strategy also calls for partnerships with CSOs and NGOs, incorporation of mental health support, and statewide awareness campaigns.
“Katsina State is charging forward with practical, people-focused solutions to protect the vulnerable and uphold the dignity of every citizen,” the Commissioner conclude
