The Bauchi State Government, through the Ministry of Women Affairs, Child Development, and Social Welfare, in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), on Monday led other partners and key stakeholders in the fight against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) to mark the 2024 16 Days of Activism to end violence against women in the state.
The day’s activities commenced with a solidarity walk by officials of the ministry, implementing partners (IPs), and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs). The walk began at the State Secretariat, passed through Yakubun Bauchi Road, and concluded at the Government House, where the First Lady, Aisha Bala Mohammed, personally received the participants.
Welcoming the procession, the First Lady emphasised the importance of the 16 Days of Activism as a collaborative effort to bring issues of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) to the forefront, with the goal of finding solutions to mitigate the pervasive evil of GBV.
Aisha Bala Mohammed expressed gratitude to the stakeholders for demonstrating solidarity with SGBV victims in Bauchi State and across the nation. She urged them to remain steadfast in advocating for an end to violence against women and to extend their humanitarian campaign beyond the 16 Days of Activism.
She further assured that her office would continue to provide necessary support for SGBV victims in Bauchi State and encouraged the prosecution of perpetrators to serve as a deterrent.
Earlier, in her welcome remarks, the State Commissioner of Women Affairs, Hajiya Zainab Babantakko, highlighted the ministry’s efforts, in collaboration with the State Action Committee on SGBV, IPs, and local CSOs, to closely monitor SGBV cases, ensuring justice for victims and punishment for offenders.
Babantakko expressed her gratitude to Governor Bala Mohammed for creating an enabling environment that fosters collaborative efforts to tackle SGBV in the state.
She also commended the First Lady for her leadership as Chairperson of the State Action Committee on SGBV and her commitment to ensuring perpetrators are convicted while victims receive support for reintegration into their communities.
In her speech during the activity, the State Program Officer of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Deborah Tabara, emphasised that countless women and girls endure the harsh realities of gender-based violence (GBV) daily.
She stated that UNFPA, in collaboration with state ministries, departments, agencies (MDAs), and partners, stands in solidarity with the victims and is committed to taking decisive actions to achieve transformative results in ending GBV and other harmful practices.
Tabara, who also serves as a Gender and Reproductive Health Analyst, highlighted the focus of this year’s mobilisation campaign on strengthening accountability mechanisms for ending violence against women and girls.
According to her, “UNFPA is focusing on tracing the root causes and standing against gender-based violence. We will continue to call for global action to foster awareness, galvanise advocacy efforts, and share innovative solutions to end the pandemic of violence against women and girls.”
She further noted, “UNFPA’s 16 Days of Activism campaigns have raised awareness, mobilised advocacy, and inspired action to combat gender-based violence in all its forms. We remain committed to championing the rights and well-being of every individual, irrespective of gender, and to creating a world where everyone can live free from fear and violence.”
Deborah Tabara reiterated UNFPA’s dedication to partnerships with the Bauchi State Government, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), women’s rights organisations, the UN system, schools, and universities to work towards a state free from all forms of GBV.
This year’s global theme for the 16 Days of Activism is “Towards 30 Years of the Beijing Declaration and Program of Action: UNiTE to End Violence Against Women and Girls.”
READ MORE FROM: NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
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