Bauchi Stakeholders Commit To Curb GBV
Usman Inuwa, State Coordinator, USAID funded Breakthrough Action Nigeria. Photo: Murtala Muhammad
By Murtala Muhammad
Stakeholders in Bauchi state have expressed readiness to do everything humanly possible to reduce cases of Gender Based Violence GBV.
They gave the indication at a engagement meeting organized by the State Primary Health Care Development Agency in collaboration with USAID funded Breakthrough Action Nigeria, held at the palace of District Head of Bauchi.
This is part of activities to mark the 2023 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence, spanning from 25th November to 10th December, with the theme “Investing to prevent violence against women and girls”.
The objectives of the meeting according to the Gender Focal Person in the state Primary Health Care Development Agency, Alawiyya Usman was to raise awareness about GBV and work towards ending all forms of violence against women and girls worldwide.
She said it was also to challenge harmful societal norms, advocate for policy changes, empower survivors, and mobilise individuals and communities to take action against GBV.
The Gender Desk Officer, State Ministry of Health, Zuwaira Baba said the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law assented to by Governor Bala Mohammed made provisions to punish anyone caught engaging in such act.
The District Head of Bauchi, Alhaji Nuru Adamu Jumba said the traditional institutions have community structure in the nooks and crannies of the state saddled with the responsibility of correcting social ills, such as family and neighbours’ misunderstanding.
He said the institution was worried that men, women and even children were all culprits of Gender Based Violence and if all stakeholders would work together towards addressing GBV the problem would be the thing of the past.
On his part, the Bauchi State Coordinator, USAID funded Breakthrough Action Nigeria, Usman Inuwa said to address GBV, effort must be focused on drastic poverty reduction among individuals.
Usman Inuwa said research has shown that GBV has connection with poverty, stressing that stakeholders must invest heavily in human capital development and empowerment to arrest the situation.
He said GBV can occur in different ways and eliminating it in the society, needs the contribution of everybody.
The Chairman Caretaker Committee, Bauchi Local Government, Hajiya Zainab Baban Takko urged stakeholders to amplify their voices, ignite changes together to pave the way for a society where every individual feels safe, respected and valued regardless of their gender.
Zainab Baban Takko called on all individuals, groups, NGOs, CSOs, CBOs and government at all levels to put hands on deck towards addressing GBV, noted that the menace was evitable and preventable.
The meeting was supported by Care International, Hands, Plan International among others partners.
