By Ahmed Ahmed
Bauchi State Government and Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV) Case Management Committee partners to eliminate and end all forms of Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV) in the State.
They made the commitment while commemorating 2023 16 Days of Activism on Ending all Gender Based Violence Against Women and Girls at
Ministry of Women Affairs, Child Development and Social Welfare on Friday in Bauchi.
Hajiya Fatima Abdullahi, Director Women affairs in the Ministry appreciated the committee for the visit to the ministry, saying the visit apt as the ministry is in the virtue of eliminating SGBV menace in the state.
She noted that violence against Women and Girls is a clear gross violation of the fundamental human rights of Women and Girls.
“It is a global health and developmental issue that cuts across economics, culture, religion, and age.
“It is one of the key issues that concerns the state government and other key partners in the state,” she said
Abdullahi urged the Committee to embark on creating awareness on the low level of knowledge of the existing VAPP law among residents, calling on relevant organizations to support the government’s effort in creating awareness on the existence of the law and efforts to tackle GBV.
She applauded the involvement of the committee to enlighten communities on the dangers of SGBV in the state.
On her part , Mrs Esther Patrick , Member of the committee and a Deputy Director of the Ministry in charge of Gender explained that the state has a Dashboard with mobilization offices across the 20 local government areas of the state.
She acknowledged the concerted efforts made by the Committee key actors and stakeholders on their services, commitment and sacrifice, while empathizing with victims and survivors exposed to the heinous crime.
Earlier, Mr Kingsley Yalling , Programme office ASHH Foundation said they are in the Ministry to chart a way of fighting sexual gender based violence in the state.
He explained that the Committee was formed by the ASHH foundation with the support of Actionaid Nigeria for about five years .
“The Committee was able to secure 27 cases of gender based violence across ,noting the Committee doesn’t relent on its efforts to tackle the sexual gender based violence,” he said.
He said they established a system that aimed at encouraging people to report cases on violence.
“The community people on their own have started reporting cases against the norm of covering up due to the fact that certain community members are involved,” Yalling said.