November 29, (THEWILL) — The Sokoto State Government has flagged off the 2025 edition of the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV), reaffirming its commitment to tackling violence against women and girls across the state.
The annual international campaign features daily activities designed to spotlight the prevalence of GBV and push for stronger legal and social protections for women.
This year’s commemoration in Sokoto is being coordinated by the Department of Human Rights in partnership with civil society organisations working on human rights and gender issues.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting, Special Adviser to the Governor, Hon. Yahaya Sani Rarah, described GBV as a major threat to public safety and social well-being, particularly in communities affected by conflict.
He stressed the need for a unified movement that drives action, accountability, and sustained public awareness.
Rarah outlined planned activities for the campaign, which include radio discussions, awareness walks, women empowerment initiatives, and school outreach programmes targeting pupils in primary and secondary schools.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring justice for survivors and holding perpetrators accountable.
“The administration of His Excellency, Dr Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto, is committed to protecting the dignity of women and children. This 16-day campaign will further amplify our efforts to curb gender-based violence and deepen public awareness across the state,” he said.
Also speaking, Executive Lead of Gender Educators Initiative, Shafa’atu Suleiman, highlighted the critical role of ethical media reporting in amplifying survivors’ voices and exposing abusive practices.
She noted that the organisation recently trained more than 30 female journalists in Sokoto on ethical GBV reporting.
Their stories, she said, will be published on the group’s platform, RiportAM, to enhance coordination, transparency, and accountability in addressing GBV cases across the state.
Tunde Omolehin is an award-winning Journalist with prose in investigative and storytelling that is connecting the dots between the under-reported communities and policymakers to ensure good governance and accountability.
