In a bid to create more awareness and sensitize communities in Nigeria, a Kano-based civil society organization, the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), in partnership with the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), has organized a town hall meeting with the traditional rulers of Ja’en community of Gwale Local Government Area on the fight against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence.
The two organizations carried out this activity in commemoration of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence with the theme: ‘UNITE! Invest to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls’.
Speaking at the meeting, CITAD’s Gender Officer, Miss Zainab Aminu, emphasized that sensitization on SGBV would increase community awareness and approach towards the elimination of GBV.
She added: ‘We need to work together to tackle this menace to achieve meaningful impact. We all need to invest resources, energy, and time to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls.’
On her part, the Chairperson of NAWOJ Kano Chapter, Hafsat Sani Usman, called on households to empower and support their wives. She also charged women to be major contributors to society.
She said, ‘Households should try to empower our women. This case of SGBV mostly happens because of financial dependence. If the wife, for instance, depends on a little amount, there will definitely be a problem in that marriage.’
Mrs. Hafsat Usman added that addressing violence against women and girls requires a comprehensive and collective approach. ‘We will continue to collaborate with key stakeholders in fighting gender and sexual-related violence.’
While speaking, the district head of Ja’en, Alhaji Isma’il Sa’ad Usman, appreciated CITAD and NAWOJ for organizing the town hall meeting and the Ja’en community members who attended the event.
‘We have challenges in fighting sexual and gender-based violence in the community and dangerous practices such as rape, domestic violence, among others,’ he said.
‘We have come to tell the community that everybody should rise up, everybody should speak out; people should not keep quiet when there is gender violence. Children should be exposed to education to help them understand the rights that the laws of the land have given them.’
The district head also emphasized the importance of raising awareness and advocating for change within the community.”
Stakeholders at the session were unanimous that gender based violence is one of the most prevalent human rights violation globally.
They described gender based violence as a crime against humanity, which should be handled with all seriousness because it lacks social, economic or national boundaries.
