On 28th January 2025, the dRPC team and Muslim Opinion Leaders paid a visit to Her Royal Highness, Hajiya Maryam Sanusi, wife of the Emir of Kano & Founding Member and Acting President of the Women’s Organization for Relief and Empowerment (WORE) to discuss collaborative efforts in addressing GBV.
Her Royal Highness Hajiya Maryam Sanusi expressed a strong commitment to partnering with the dRPC to tackle the rising cases of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Kano.
She stated that WORE was established in response to the numerous complaints she received from women facing abuse and domestic violence. This initiative led her to collaborate with esteemed experts, including Prof. Hadiza Galadanci, Prof. Ruqayyah Ahmed Rufa’i (former Minister of Education), Prof. Aisha Ismail, Justice Maryam Sabo, and others.
WORE focuses on:
- Educating and sensitizing traditional leaders and communities on GBV, as well as the protection of women and girls.
- Conducting community outreaches and engaging with the wives of District Heads to support their husbands in addressing GBV within their communities.
- Establishing an institution to train secondary school graduates on moral and cultural values in Northern Nigeria.
- Providing support to GBV survivors and empowering women through various initiatives.
WORE has carried out numerous initiatives aimed at addressing Gender-Based Violence (GBV). These include a seminar with experts and the wives of District Heads to discuss GBV from legal, political, social, religious, and educational perspectives. Additionally, WORE organized the 1st Sensitization Workshop with Kano District Heads, focusing on revitalizing the role of traditional leaders in domestic conflict management and resolution through dialogue and social justice.
During the meeting with Her Royal Highness, discussions extensively covered the existing GBV laws in Kano, highlighting gaps and examining the role of NAPTIP in investigating and prosecuting GBV cases in the state.
Areas of Collaboration between dRPC and WORE
The dRPC and WORE have agreed to collaborate in the following areas:
- Training Muslim scholars on the Islamic perspective on GBV.
- Training traditional leaders on the Islamic perspective on GBV.
- Conducting research to better understand the root causes of GBV.
Additionally, WORE has requested support in enhancing their visibility by revamping their website and accessing grant opportunities to expand their work across Kano State.
