By Rabiu Musa

HOTPEN – A Non-Governmental Organization working to Prevent Gender-Based Violence in Kano, the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), has said that if an end must be brought to gender-based violence in the state there must be a concerted effort of all stakeholders to curb the menace.

The Gender Officer of the Centre, Zainab Aminu, made the call in Sa’adatu Rimi College of Education Kano, during a sensitization lecture organized to commemorate the 2022 International Women’s Day.

International Women’s Day, celebrated annually on March 8 – is a day that commemorates the social, political and economic achievements of women as well as creating awareness on issues that affect women and girls and to proffer solutions to them.

The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day is: “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow.” This year’s campaign is represented by the #BreakTheBias hashtag and calls on people to work towards a world that is equitable, inclusive, and free from bias and discrimination against women.

Zainab, who congratulated women all over the world on the day, reminded them of the need to use the occasion to create awareness on sexual and gender based violence issues with the aim of finding a lasting solution.

She added that Gender-based violence is a universal problem, and the solution to the problem requires awareness, sensitization and all stakeholders to work together in addressing the problem.

She said, “Violence against young girls and women is a severe human rights abuse. It is driven by both ageism and sexism but also affected by other characteristics such as marital status or having a disability”.

On his part, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Boss, Kano Zonal office reiterated their commitment to collaborate with Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), to raise awareness and fight sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in the state.

Abdullahi, expressed the need to advance and sustain the campaign against all sorts of violence against the girl child and identify more partners to be involved in the struggle. He urged parents, religious institutions, community members and the media to encourage victims to speak out on cases of abuse or violence.

Dr. Bashir Sani, who is the Director Guidance and Counseling of the college urged the participants to use the knowledge learned during the session and give same to their communities.

Dr. Sani also commended CITAD for organizing the training, saying, it was timely and they are committed to partnering with the organization towards achieving the common goal.

[gview file=”https://www.citad.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/PRESS-CONFERENCE-DRAFT-FOR-JAN.-2022.docx”]

[gview file=”https://www.citad.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/PRESS-CONFERENCE-DEC.-DATA_Jan_Ed.docx”]

[gview file=”https://www.citad.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/PRESS-CONFERENCE-NOVEMBER-2021Edited-and-Comments.docx”]

Center for information technology and development (CITAD) organised its first sensitization programme in Kano at Nigeria security and civil defence corps zonal headquarter.

The programme welcomed stakeholders from different organizations, includes Idris Adamu the commandant of civil service, A.A Haruna the assistant commandant, Barrister Asma’u Suleiman a social secretary in Nigeria bar Association and also a lecturer in law school, Kawu Adam Sule, a lecturer in the department of sociology, Bayero university kano.

Commandant Idris Adamu, commended CITAD on their effort towards enlightening the officers on gender-based violence.

He stressed that “gender-based violence has become a worldwide problem and assured the public that they are civil defence who defend the defenseless”.

Kawu Adamu Sule buttressed on the concepts of gender-based violence and how the public can curtail the menace of gender-based violence.

“We are in a patriarchal society which makes women vulnerable, calling on people to make personal and collective efforts to end impunity, change harmful social norms and report issues to relevant authorities”.

Barrister Asma’u Suleiman, also advised the civil defence officers to do their homework properly by using wisdom not the power of their uniform.

Zainab Aminu gender officer CITAD, expressed reasons why they choose civil defence out of all security agencies, discloses that NSCDC are the top security personnels Nigerians trust.

Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) is a capacity-building civil Society organization whose activities cover research, advocacy, training, and publicity in all areas of ICT for development and good governance. It’s in the light of the above that the organisation paid a courtesy visit to the Women’s Rights Advancement & Protection Alternative (WRAPA). WRAPA Being an organisation committed to increasing women’s access to justice, by actualising women’s legal rights in public and private spaces, CITAD deem it necessary to pay a courtesy visit for familiarity, building relationships and possible collaboration for the betterment of our communities.

The courtesy visit which took place on Monday 7th February 2022 at the WRAPA headquarter office Abuja, had in attendance CITAD programme officer Yesmin Salako, technical officer Muhammad Yahya Bello and Usman Isah, Programme manager WRAPA Umma Ribi, Yemisi WRAPA project coordinator, WRAPA finance officer Shafiu and Mal. Muhammad. Yesmin shared CITAD activities which has been an ongoing activity in the FCT, which includes ICT training in the FCT rural communities ICT centre, GBV and child abuse sensitization, peer education training, community networks projects aimed at breaking the digital divide, social audit & FOI training for FCT rural communities activists, promotion of transparency and accountability in the governance and electoral process through engaging community youth in monitoring of electoral processes in their surroundings. WRAPA representatives were pleased to be informed on the in depth work CITAD is doing especially at the grass root level ensuring no one is left behind irrespective of gender, tribe, religion, class or age. WRAPA also expressed how it had engaged in several activities with CITAD in the past to include the summer digital institute, Inspiring Leadership or mentorship programmes (ILERIS) among others.

To this end, WRAPA showed the need to rekindle the partnership between CITAD and WRAPA for effective and a better impact in the societies where we work. WRAPA therefore requested for CITAD to send a portfolio of all our activities, so they could figure out where to key in.

The National Human Rights Commission NHRC, Kano Zonal office has reiterated its commitment to collaborate with Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), to fight sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in the state.

State Coordinator of the Commission, Shehu Abdullahi stated this while receiving the delegation of CITAD in his office for an advocacy visit.

Abdullahi, while expressing deep concern and worries over the rise in the case of violence against women and girl-child in the state, said the act was often time carried out by elderly persons.

Earlier, the state coordinator noted that the NHRC cannot single-handedly and successfully stop the scourge of violence against women and girl-child without the support and collaboration of non-governmental organizations and community-based organizations.

On her part, the Gender technical officer of the center, Zainab Aminu, said CITAD recently conducted a survey in 22 local government areas of Kano State on violence against women and children and the results showed that the practice is on the rise. She maintained that, this negative outcome calls for deep involvement of stakeholders and relevant authorities across the state to curtail its spread.

She also added that for such a crusade against GBV on women and girl-child to be successful, all hands must be on deck to tackle it.

Zainab Aminu, expressed that there is need to advance and sustain the campaign against all sorts of violence against the girl child and identify more partners to be involved in the struggle. She urged parents, religious institutions, community members and the media to encourage victims to speak out on cases of abuse or violence.

Madam Zainab appealed to the NHRC to provide data of violence against young girls and women to the center, because data is key in addressing gender-based violence cases and it will help to get a rundown of cases across the state.

All the tiers of government were urged to put up stringent measures to serve as deterrent against the perpetrators of the heinous act for a better society

PRESS CONFERENCE ON THE NEED TO ADDRESS GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE IN KANO STATE BY THE CENTRE FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND DEVELOPMENT (CITAD) ON THE 12TH OF OCTOBER, 2021

Gender-Based violence is a harmful act being inflicted at individuals based on their gender. This has to do with gender inequality, the abuse of power and harmful norms. GBV is a serious violation of human rights and a life-threatening health and protection issue. Estimates published by WHO indicate that globally one in three women has experienced sexual or physical violence in her life. “Violence against women Prevalence Estimates, 2018”

From the cultural perspective, the practice of gender-based violence is predominant in the world societies, especially developing countries like Nigeria. One of the identifiable forms of GBV is sexual harassment or abuse of children by either their parents or guardians.

These abuses have endangered the lives of many girls in the society and often times led to physical and psychological harms, even death sometimes: GBV therefore remains an obstacle to girls’ education and children development in general.

As part of the effort to curb GBV in the society and to promote the wellbeing of women and girl child, including creating a safe and secure educational environment, the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) with support from Ford Foundation has been implementing a project titled “Strengthening Citizens Response and Protection Against Gender Based Violence in Kano, Nigeria” whose aim is to Achieve a safe society for women and girls, free from gender violence and discrimination to bridge gender gap in girl child education, allowing for the attainment of gender parity in educational accomplishments  .

This involves stakeholders’ engagement, advocacy, tracking and monitoring of GBV incidences in order to make informed statements. It is for this reason that the organization has instituted a monthly press conference to share information and data relating to GBV in Kano State. The objective of doing this is to create public visibility of this menace and sensitize all stakeholders to take action for addressing it.

Our Efforts:

In tracking incidences of GBV in the state, CITAD has deployed a multi-approach mechanism including:

1. The use of electronic platforms for people to reports incidences in privacy
2. The use of monitors in tertiary institutions in the state
3. Embedded monitors within communities
4. Cooperation and sharing of data with various agencies such as National Orientation Agency (NOA)
5. Sensitization activities by trained champions with the communities

The table below shows the breakdown analysis of data collected on the GBV App in the month of September 2021.

Download the table using the link below

GBV Table 114KB

The data above shows that GBV is been perpetrated against both male and female gender with a higher number of female victims within all age ranges in both rural, urban and suburban communities with prevalence in Urban communities. The perpetrators are also of both genders, although with a higher number of male perpetrators. It was also observed that the perpetrators are either family members, teachers/lecturers, student peers or even those that have no relation to the victims.

Recommendations:

– Kano State House of Assembly to domesticate the Child Rights Act and VAPP Act at the state level which will contribute in reducing this menace.

– Kano state government to speed up the implementation of Child Right Act in the State as this will help in reducing child abuse in the state

– Religious leaders to use their preaching platforms in creating awareness against GBV in the state

– Traditional leaders both at state and local levels to work with different authorities in curtailing the menace of GBV in the state

– Institutions of higher learning in the state should all develop and implement gender policy and create appropriate mechanisms for victims and others to reports such incidences to the authorities.

– The state government to not only adopt laws to protect women and girls, but also establish referral centres and forensic centres for victims.

– Government and Non-Governmental organizations should intensify activities to promote awareness and advocacy on violence against women.

– Media houses to use their platforms in creating awareness against GBV and be reporting punishments done to perpetrators of GBV instead of GBV cases.

Zainab Aminu

Gender Project Programme Officer

As parts the effort to fight gender base violence among girls and women in Kano State, the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), in conjunction with the Ford Foundation has lunched a unique Web Page and Android Application to monitor and report cases of gender-based violence.

The Web Page and Android Application aim to create a comprehensive database on gender-based violence hotspots across Kano state, particularly in public schools, so that Kano women/girls can plan safer education for themselves and their loved ones.

The data will also give government authorities, civil society movements, media houses and women organisation a deeper understanding of gender-based violence across Kano, identifying unmet needs, raising public awareness and helping to shape policy on safety in public spaces.

The technical officer of the Centre Suhail Sani Abdullahi, stressed that the new web page and Android Application will receive and stored data from different monitors who is our volunteers ambassadors at Kano state higher institutions.

Suhail Sani stressed that the centre are committed to working together for a safer society for women and girls.

He therefore, said that the new application will not expose name or address of the victim and the person who reported the case. And the application will be available in next few days on internet platform.

On his part, the executive director of the Centre for Information Technology and Development CITAD, Engr. Yunusa Ya’u expressed his worry over the rising cases of gender base violence in Kano State among girls/women and also his concerns on the need to have synergy among all key actors in fighting it.

“Gender based violence is a major problem in our society, and it takes many forms such as sexual harassment in our campuses, rape, spousal abuse, sexual gratification for job or marks, etc. It can be physically or online and traumatized its victims”

He added that the centre will use the data generated from new application in advocacy, public enlightenment, equipping women and girls with relevant information and knowledge to protect themselves against gender based violence, and finally to work with some partners to push for the prosecution of perpetrators of gender based violence.

While giving out the overview of the programme, the gender officer of the project, Zainab Aminu applauded the participants for attending the workshop which according to her will enrich their knowledge on the concept of GBV and how to report the incidence easily.

She added that, “it is compulsory on everyone to report and act on any case of gender based violence to end this menace in our society”.

Journalists and students from universities and other state higher institutions attended the launching of the application.

Incidents of gender-based violence have continued to top the chart of discourse among stakeholders, despite efforts by the government to check the threat. Also experts and advocates against Gender-Based Violence say the consequences of lack of justice for survivors of GBV have been fatal in many instances.

Gender Hate Speech and Women Political Participation is a project Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) implements with support from National Democratic Institute (NDI). The project aims to address gender hate speech and promote women participation in politics and governance process without intimidation, harassment or bullying in Nigeria through advocacy and series of campaigns and activities. The project has various components which comprise conducting formative research, monitoring and countering hate speech, stakeholder engagement, online and offline campaign against hate speech and violence against women online, etc.

By Ismail Auwal

Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), has called on Federal Government to embrace the use of digital technology in the fight against violence.

The Director of the center, Mallam Yunusa Zakari Yau, in a statement, said that Insecurity has today become too generalized in Nigeria that nowhere is safe in the country.

“Kidnapping, banditry, secessionist violence has all become common place that peace is the only illusive constant.”
He said that, “in the past our fear was of armed robbers. Now armed robbery appears to be the lesser evils. The business of kidnapping people has become an easy way to make money for all classes of criminals, insurgents and they with a cause that support violence.”

The center argued that the government and its security and law enforcement agencies have not shown the leadership that will inspire the citizens that indeed, they can beat this and restore peace in the country. Instead, they seem to be in a debate among themselves as to who can offer the most ridiculous explanation of their failure.

“One thing that is obvious is the increasing use of digital technology by the different assortments of merchants of violence in the country. They wage a campaign of terror and violence using intelligence, this means that government’s’ counter insurgency must also turn to be based on intelligence.”
Making effective use of intelligence requiring an elaborate capacity to deploy and use digital technology. sadly, we have not seen this in the way that army and other agencies are prosecuting the campaign against insurgents.

Embracing digital technology is about equipping and reequipping our army and intelligence agencies who have been underequipped now for quite some times. Part of the reason is the systematic corruptions that is embedded in the different national institutions of governance and security in the country,” he said.

According to the center, a foundation step is needed to dismantle the war-economy around the counter-insurgency efforts. The war-economy has been articulated by people and organizations that benefit from the situation to continue to allow the violence to continue with no interest in winning the battel.

“All these involved in feeding fat on the misery of the citizens should be brought to book. Once that is done, a lot of resources would be recovered to fund the reequipping of the army and security agencies to strategically counter the insurgents and bandits.”

Part of that reequipped is to deploy digital technology for intelligence gathering, processing and transfer to enable the effort be driven by intelligence and be well ahead of the insurgents.

Uses of technology

1. Drones to locate and eliminate insurgents and bandits
2. Monitoring the movement and activities of bandits and insurgents
3. Tracking money movement to see establish how they are funded and how they use money to support their activities
4. Locating and monitoring of the sites, camps and concentrations of insurgents and bandits
5. Tracking supplies and logistics
6. What government should do:
7. Develop, through consultation its Use of Technology for Counter Insurgency Plan and Strategy
8. dentity and address connectivity blind spots in the country, especially within environments where bandits and insurgents are operating
9. Empower citizens to use and access to technology so as to the best use of it
10. Develop a full characterisation of insurgents use of social media and track down their conversations using the identified markers
11. Develop, using internationally accepted standards, protocols for monitoring suspected insurgents
12. In doing these, government should not:
13. Indiscriminately monitor citizens to trample and desecrate their right to digital privacy
14.It must never mount a mass surveillance of is citizens because it is not only counterproductive and wasteful but also a derogation of the right of citizens to privacy
15. It must avoid the temptation to turn power of technology into weapon for political witch-hunt.
16. It must also have clear data protection policy. Right now there is too much a digital citizens’ personal data in the hands of so many agencies of government without clear rules of data collection, data storage, management and use as well as sharing. We do not know which third parties have access to this data, how it is use and for what purpose. The global standard is that data subject must know who use, for what use such data is put to.

5^th of June 2020

Coalition of Civil Societies launched a campaign to push for systemic change on Sexual and Gender Based Violence in Nigeria. In response to the protest, Actionaid Nigeria and CITAD mobilized 20 women in the communities to join the protest.

The Protest was held at the force headquarters in the nation’s capital to challenge the legislators on what was being done to protect women and girls and to end rape and other violence against women. The demonstrators comprise of mainly women and numbering more than 200. A petition was submitted to the Inspector General of Police.

The aim of the peaceful protest is to demand for domestication of Violence against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act and Childs Rights Act in all states of the federation

Establishment of Sexual Assault Referral Centers (SARC) should be implemented in every States.

Criminalization and prompt state led prosecution of GBV cases within, regardless of requests or interference by the victims’ family

The demonstration held many banners and demanded that those responsible for the attack and murder of SGBV victims should be prosecuted and brought to justice.

At the end of the protest, Actionaid and CITAD team sensitized the community women on the rise of SGBV and the preventive measures to put in place in case of any eventualities.