By Akanji Alowolodu, Bauchi
Bauchi State Commissioner of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Hajara Jibrin Gidado has lamented that almost I in 3 women are being abused in their life time and the number keeps increasing as was seen during the Covid-19 Pandemic and other crises as conflicts emanate and disasters occur.
The Commissioner who was speaking when she received women groups who embarked on a walk under the 16 Days of Activism against Gender based violence saying that a new report from the UN violence based on gender from 13 Countries since the pandemic showed that 2 in 3 women reported that they experienced some form of violence and out of that, Only 1 percent) reported to the Police or any other authority for assistance.
According to her, The Mandate of the programme is to ensure that women, youths and the girl child are been protected from all forms of violence.
She disclosed that Plan International is one of the Agencies of Collaborating with Ministry adding that It is worthy to know that Plan International and relevant NGO’s, Security bodies and others are there to see that perpetrators are made to account for the act and justice should not only be served on the perpetrators but should be seen to have been done.
The Commissioner who was represented by the Director of Administration in the Ministry, Fatimah Jibrin said that they should protect our women and youths wherever necessary assuring that the doors of the Ministry are open for all programmes to fight GBV in the state, Community society at large.
The Commissioner appealed to all the NGOs to form a partnership that will ensure that victims of GBV were not only heard but supported to get justice while stigmatization should be fought because according to her, it is one of the reasons victims are not coming out to speak out.
In her remarks, Representative of Plan International in Bauchi, Zainab Sabitu said that the NGO decided to participate in the program as a way of supporting fight against all forms of gender based violence.
She added that Plan International will continue to support the fight against gender based violence particularly against the Girl-child who have faced different forms of violence and are suffering silently.
Chairperson of Bauchi State chapter of the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Mrs Bulak Afsa said that the walk was organized in conjunction with Plan International and 10 different women groups participated.
Bulak Afsa added that the aim is to create Awareness on the need for people to rise up to stop all forms of gender based violence in order to return sanity to the existence of the family.
She said that, “gender based violence is not only against the woman, even men are not left out. What we are doing today is to ensure that people stand up to fight against gender based violence in the community”.
The NAWOJ Chairperson stressed that Plan International is supporting the women groups in the fight against gender based violence in the community which she said has retarded social activities within the community.
Other groups that spoke on the need to give cover to the girl child against any form of violence during the walk included FOMWAN, NCWS, He4She, Stan up for Women Societies (SWS) who all spoke on the need for creating of awareness against all forms of gender based violence in the society.
