Katsina Stakeholders Push for Centres to Combat Sexual Violence

Stakeholders in Katsina State have urged the government and development partners to establish Sexual Assault Referral Centres in conflict-prone communities to tackle the growing challenge of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV).

The call was made at the end of a policy dialogue organised by the SPRiNG Programme in collaboration with the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) initiative in Katsina.

The event, held to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict, focused on the theme: “Recognising Conflict-Related Sexual Violence as a Tactic of War: Prevention, Accountability and Survivor Protection.”

Participants stressed the need for dedicated support centres for survivors, legal reforms that explicitly recognise CRSV as a criminal offence, and the establishment of a rehabilitation fund to aid victims.

They also recommended stronger collaboration among government agencies and stakeholders, specialised training for security personnel and frontline responders, and comprehensive research into the causes, prevalence and prevention of conflict-related sexual violence in the state.

The stakeholders noted that many cases remain unreported despite persistent security challenges such as banditry and kidnapping across parts of Katsina.

According to them, weak prosecution of offenders, poor documentation of incidents, inadequate public awareness and limited understanding of the underlying causes of CRSV continue to hinder efforts to address the problem effectively.

Speaking at the event, Lawal Alhassan of the Katsina State Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs described conflict-related sexual violence as a serious threat to peace, security and sustainable development.

Alhassan, who co-chairs the state’s Women, Peace and Security Technical Committee, said stronger institutional partnerships were essential to tackling the issue. He described the dialogue’s recommendations as a practical framework for collective action and pledged continued support for efforts aimed at protecting vulnerable groups.

Also speaking, Chairperson of the Katsina State Women, Peace and Security Working Group, Bilkisu Nasir-Yashe, said ending conflict-related sexual violence required a coordinated approach involving government agencies, security institutions, traditional and religious leaders, civil society organisations and local communities.

She urged stakeholders to convert the resolutions reached during the dialogue into concrete actions that would improve accountability, strengthen referral mechanisms and enhance support services for survivors.

Hajara Abubakar of the Katsina State Ministry of Women Affairs reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to prioritising survivors in all intervention programmes.

She noted that women and girls remain among the most affected by conflict situations, while many survivors continue to suffer in silence due to stigma, fear and inadequate access to support services.

Abubakar pledged sustained collaboration with relevant institutions and development partners to strengthen survivor-centred interventions and advance the Women, Peace and Security agenda in the state.

The dialogue attracted participants from government ministries, security agencies, health and justice institutions, civil society groups, traditional and religious institutions, development partners and the media.