The Sokoto State government says about 677 Gender Based Violence, GBV cases were reported in the state as at Octrmber 27, with only five convictions secured.
Commissioner for Women and Children Affairs Kulu Sifawa who made this known at a press conference and award ceremony for advocates against GBV in the state, noted that the negligible number of convictions is due to the limited number of courts prosecuting cases in the state.
Kulu also added that this had stopped some of the victims from seeking redress as the distance between courts and most communities was very long, noting that other impediments included low level of education of victims, who were mostly scared of the courts.
The Commissioner however said her Ministry has been collaborating with the judiciary for the setting up of special courts to ensure justice for the survivors of GBV.
She also explained that the records of victims were compiled by the situation room set up in the Ministry, under the UN/EU Spotlight initiative Project, supported by United Nations Development Programme.
