Out of the 1000 cases received in Kano, only about 15 are prosecuted in Courts-NAWOJ
By Khadija Aliyu
The chairperson of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Kano state chapter Comrade Hafsat Sani Ismail says about 15 rape cases out of the one thousand recorded by WARAKA sexual referral centre Kano annually are prosecuted in a court of law.
Hafsat disclosed a one-day media training on human rights and social inclusion held in Kano.
She said, according to the WARAKA sexual referral Centre Murtala Muhammad Special Hospital Kano, they receive one thousand cases in one year, but only five hundred are reported to the Ministry of Justice, while only about 15 are prosecuted by the court.
She urged parents and guardians to be more vigilant and report any case of human rights violation, child labour and molestation to relevant authorities to curb the scourge.
The chairperson expressed NAWOJs determination to collaborate with relevant stakeholders in curbing gender-based violence (GBV) and protecting the rights of women and girls.
The chief executive officer of Stallion Times, Alhaji Isiyaku Ahmed advised the media to advocate for human rights and social inclusion through news coverage.
He said the media have a vital role to play by covering human rights and inclusion issues and following up on cases to ensure justice for survivors of gender-based violence.
Isiyaku pointed out that, the objectives of the training are to promote human rights and social inclusion as well as appreciate conditions for gender equity in society and development.
He said the project get involved, dialogue and improve project (GDRIP), is supported by the MacArthur Foundation to educate journalists.
“We hope that we will work together to promote human rights and social inclusion”
In her presentation titled ‘Understanding Human Rights and Social Inclusion in the Media’ a lecturer at the Department of Political Science at Bayero University Kano (BUK), Professor Aisha Isma’il defined women’s rights as human rights.
She described rights to life and property, rights to education, empowerment, freedom from abuse, exploitation, harassment and violence, rights to participate in the public sphere and decision-making as some of the fundamental human rights.
She highlighted that the media can significantly impact how gender equity and social inclusion are understood, discussed and addressed.
“Types of gender-based violence include physical, sexual, economic, emotional, spiritual, verbal, stalking and social”
Some of the participants who spoke to Radio Nigeria Maimuna O. Yusuf from Freedom Radio Muhammad Adamu Abubakar from Pyramid FM and Abdul from PR Nigeria described the training as apt.
The one-day media training on human rights and social inclusion was organized by Stallion Times Media and supported by the MacArthur Foundation.
