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Summary
The Women Advocacy, Research and Documentation Center (WARDC) in Niger State has expressed deep concern over the alarming frequency of sexual and gender-based violence, with over 1,000 cases documented between 2023 and 2024.
The Women Advocacy, Research and Documentation Center (WARDC) raised uproar over the frequency of sexual and gender-based violence in Niger state pointing out that more than 1,000 cases were documented between 2023 and 2024.
These cases highlighted range from physical assaults to emotional abuse, emphasizing the urgent need for action.
Hassana Joan Kpeto, the Niger State Coordinator of WARDC, made this known during a press briefing held in Minna over the weekend.
The theme “Invest in Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV): Increase Budget to End Violence Against Women and Girls,” the briefing highlighted the critical need for government intervention.
Ms Kpeto revealed that out of the 1,000 reported cases, the (WARDC) organisation was only able to address 100, with just eight convictions recorded during the period. She attributed the limited success to inadequate funding and called on all levels of government to prioritize SGBV in their budgets.
“WARDC is a human rights organisation operating nationwide to combat issues such as gender-based violence, child abuse, and child labour,” she explained.
“We need governments and private sector partners to invest in SGBV initiatives and allocate more resources to end violence against women and girls.”
Ms Kpeto further emphasised the importance of incorporating gender-responsive budgeting in state policies and programs, urging the Niger State government to set aside 0.05% of its 2025 budget for Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) like the Ministry of Women Affairs, Ministry of Justice, and the Child Rights Act Agency.
“Gender-responsive budgeting is about integrating a gender lens at every stage of governance—planning, policy-making, resource allocation, and implementation,” she noted.
“Legislators should champion this framework to ensure sustainable and effective interventions.”
