The World Bank has joined forces with the Nasarawa State government to address the increasing cases of gender-based violence(GBV) and other issues affecting the girl child in the state.
Speaking at a one-day sensitization workshop for stakeholders on the dangers of gender-based violence (GBV) and female genital mutilation (FGM), Esther Yonah, the Gender Pillar Head of the Nigeria COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Project (CoPREP) in the state, expressed concern about the negative impact of GBV and FGM on women’s self-esteem.
“Female rights have been the most abused and neglected,” Yonah said. “There have been a lot of issues concerning Gender-based Violence, sexual exploitation, and sexual harassment. That’s why the World Bank supported Nasarawa State through the Center for Disease Control to implement this project in the state.”
She highlighted the importance of the workshop in raising awareness and creating an action plan to ensure the safety of people in their workplaces, schools, and communities. Stating, “Sometime in February, we were able to call stakeholders here in Lafia to develop the state’s action plan,” Yonah explained. “It is crucial to ensure that people are safe in their workplaces, schools, and communities.”
