By Akanji Alowolodu, Bauchi
Coalition of Civil Societies in Bauchi State have demanded for the protection of women against all forms of violence calling for speedy prosecution of all those so far arrested for such offences particularly rape.
Executive Director of ASHH Foundation, Comfort Attah who was speaking on Monday to mark the 2021 International Women Day at the State Police Command headquarters said that women need to be protected considering that they are not physically strong.
She said that the significance of the International women’s Day cannot be overemphasized as it was to celebrated to highlight the issues of women saying that it has been celebrated for over one 150 years now.
Comfort Attah added that the first event started in 1911 where 1000 persons marched world over in the support of women and men rallied round in support of the move which has remained till today.
She explained that the women folk chose to challenge Gender based violence in all forms, saying, “we want security to be enhanced in all schools in Bauchi state in order to avert kidnapping of our children particularly the girl-child who is the most vulnerable”.
She then thanked the Nigeria Police for its efforts towards providing security in the society as well as the protection of women against gender based violence in the state which has led to arrest of suspects who indulged in the heinous acts.
On her part, the State Amirah of Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN), Hajiya Aishatu Ibrahim Kilishi said that FOMWAN in collaboration with ASHH Foundation joined other parts of the world to mark this years International Women’s Day.
Aishatu Ibrahim said that, “since it started over a 100 years ago, men have been supporting the women in their quest to attain their rights. Today, it is a global celebration of the social, economic, cultural and political achievement of women. The day also marks a call for action for accelerating Gender parity”.
She said that FOMWAN and ASHH Foundation marked the event with over 30 women led organizations and 15 allied organizations led by men in support of women and said that the various organizations are passionate about spreading the message of Gender transformation and the need for peace to reign in the society.
“The 2021 theme is ‘Women in leadership, achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world’, with the slogan ‘chose to challenge’, a challenge word is a on an alert, and from challenge, comes change”.
She called on women to critically examine their situation and challenge those obstacles that stand in their way of development with a view to overcoming them.
She also called on women to stand up against the current insecurity in the country while calling on all the sundary to dialogue towards finding a lasting solution to the menace.
According to her, women requires safe environment to engage positively in all walks of lives towards ensuring a sustainable wellbeing.
Although women constitute 49 percent of the total population of Nigeria according to the world bank 2019, this is hardly reflected on how women benefit from development policies, projects and programs especially in political representation, access to economic tools of products and leadership.
She noted that the contributions of women to national development are usually underrated or even go unnoticed, adding that it is imperative that government takes deliberate steps to empower women with the requisite knowledge and skills as major stakeholders in national development.
She said that the NGOs were at the police command to show their gratitude to the commissioner of police and his personnel due to their roles of taking proactive measures taken to address all forms of violence against women in the state.
She recalled that recent times, women have been major victims of security challenges, insecurity has rendered many as widows and orphans who have become national burden for many years to come.
The NGOs commended Governor Bala Mohammed for spearheading the initiative of team work around government of the six northeastern states to challenge insecurity in the subregion.
