The Kaduna State Government has established a centre for sexual assault victims in the state.

Tagged: ‘Transit Shelter’, the centre will serve as a temporary abode for women and children who are victims of sexual assaults in the state.

Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s wife, Hadiza, inaugurated the centre on Saturday in Kaduna, the state capital.

According to her, the centre will serve as a shelter where sexual assault victims could receive professional counselling, pointing out that victims of rape and other gender-based violence face stigmatisation and emotional distress.

Hadiza said, “We have to try as much as possible to take away that stigma. Do not stigmatise rape victims because they are not the ones at fault and should not be looked down upon.

“Justice is very important, because if the perpetrators see that justice is done to victims, it will serve as deterrent to others.”

The state Commissioner of Justice and Attorney-General, Aisha Dikko, said gender-based violence had become another epidemic in the society.

By Godwin Isenyo