The Salama Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) in Kafanchan, Kaduna State has recorded 3,977 cases of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) cases since its inception in 2019.
The director of the centre, Mrs Grace Abbin, made this known in a statement on Thursday.
Giving a breakdown, she stated that women and girls were the most affected with 3,434 cases, with 543 men and boys affected in Zone Three, which
comprises eight local government areas.
According to Abbi, 429 cases were of sexual assault on children and adults, while 3,548 were psychological or emotional and physical violence cases.
The director further said the centre recorded and treated 219 cases in 2019, treated 582 cases in 2020, 1009 in 2021 and 788 cases in 2022.
In 2023, 822 cases were recorded and treated while 557 cases had been recorded from January to July 2024.
She expressed happiness that the culture of silence has been broken, adding that survivors need more support to be able to access justice.
The director stated that services at the centre are free, consisting of medical treatment, psychosocial counselling, optional legal intervention, among others.
“Through the intervention of BridgeThatGap, supported by UNWomen, we were able to engage survivors in Kachia and Kaura local government areas in mental health psychosocial support.
“We need more funding to help survivors to access justice because lack of funding is making us lose evidence, thereby making justice
difficult,” Abbin stated.
