From Muawuya Bala Idris, Katsina
The Katsina State Department of Girl Child Education and Child Development has recorded 110 cases of sexual violence, domestic abuse, and family disputes over the past two years, following the establishment of the Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) in the state.
The Permanent Secretary of the department, Aminu Badaru Jikamshi, disclosed this during a three-day training on strengthening access to services for survivors of sexual violence. The programme was organised in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Jikamshi said that 60 of the cases had already been uploaded into the Child Protection Information Management System, describing the progress as an important step toward improving case documentation and coordinated response.
“This progress reflects our growing ability to document, monitor, and respond to child protection concerns with professionalism and transparency,” he said.
He commended UNICEF for providing essential working tools—including desktop computers, beds, drugs, and dignity kits—which he said had significantly enhanced services for survivors of sexual violence.
According to him, UNICEF’s assistance has also strengthened coordination among stakeholders involved in the child protection system.
“UNICEF’s collaboration with our department has been instrumental in strengthening our capacity to respond effectively to cases of sexual and gender-based violence,” Jikamshi added.