The Justice for All (J4A) programme of the UK Department for International Development (DFID) said it would establish additional Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) in four states of the country.

Its Country Director, Dr. Bob Arnorld, made the disclosure in Kano on Wednesday at a one-day conference on Sexual and Gender-based Violence organised for stakeholders.

He said the centres would be located in Jigawa, Kano, Kaduna and Niger states.

He explained that it was in response to the rising cases of sexual and gender-based violence across the country that DFID sponsored the establishment of SARCs in Lagos and Enugu states.

“The centres are to address the gaps in support services for victims by providing medical and counselling care, following incidents of rape, sexual or gender-based violence.

“SARCs provide survivors with immediate forensic and clinical examination, medical treatment, crisis counselling and practical support.”

The director added that already, the programme had consulted the four states with a view to finalising arrangements for the establishment of the centres.

Earlier, the Kano State Solicitor General, Muktar Daneji, said the state government had commenced massive public enlightenment on the need for victims of violence to report such cases to the appropriate authorities for action.

Participants at the conference include policy makers, judicial officers, lawyers, medical personnel, law enforcement officers and gender activists. (NAN)

*Photo showsDFID logo.