Following the report of the Bauchi State Action Committee on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) that 226 cases of minor rape were recorded between 2020 and 2023, adolescent girls in the state have received training on curbing the menace.

This was as Centre for Communication and Social Impact (CCSI) called for unified action to combat the scourge in Nigeria.  The state’s Ministry of Women Affairs and Child Development, civil society organisations and wife of the governor, Aisha Mohammed, organised the training.
 
During the activities marking the end of the 16 days of activism on GBV organised by the ministry, in partnership with the Office of the First Lady, stakeholders and experts called for domestication of the Child Rights Act.
 
Earlier last week, the governor’s wife had requested the establishment of a mobile court to try the perpetrators of GBV for speedy justice delivery. She asked the state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice to work with the Chief Judge (CJ) on the demand. 
 
At the 16th day of activism training for adolescents held at the Government House, yesterday, Mrs Mohammed called on women to speak up and claim their rightful place.

She explained that a lot of women facing depression lacked the courage to speak out on issues affecting their well-being.  Commissioner for Women Affairs and Child Development, Hajara Gidado, commended the first lady for her selfless efforts in women’s development. She expressed her ministry’s readiness to continue the uplift of women. 
 
The event featured panel discussion by the police, attorneys-general, Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) and traditional leaders, Plan International, UN Women, ASPIRE and other stakeholders.
CCSI, during its Youth Dialogue webinar tagged Voices Against GBV, monitored in Abuja, yesterday, urged individuals, communities and organisations to join forces in the fight against GBV. 
 
In her address, the Executive Director, Mrs Babafunke Fagbemi, emphasised that “GBV is a pervasive issue that demands a unified response,” adding that the advocacy for a unified front underscores the gravity of the issue and the need for coordinated efforts to bring about lasting change.
 
She stated: “GBV affects everyone. Therefore, we must approach the solution in the same manner, with the aim of fostering collaboration and creating a collective impact. It does not discriminate against race, tribe, colour or class; everyone is affected. So, sometimes I wonder why we even made 16 days of activism set aside when every day should be dedicated to making sure that no one suffers from GBV.”
 
Speaking on the crucial issue of breaking the silence, Fagbemi urged participants to not only speak up but also take concrete actions. She said: “Theme for this year’s Unite campaign is to prevent violence against women and girls. Beyond speaking up and challenging the status quo, we should report issues of violence when we witness any.
 
“Despite the depressing statistics quoting WHO as saying that, globally, one in three women have been subjected to either physical or sexual violence, and in Nigeria one out of 10 women aged 15 to 49 have suffered sexual assault at least once in their lifetime, I would like to invite you to speak up.”
 
Public health expert, Dr Matthew Okoh, stressed the imperative of empowering men to speak up against GBV and their own struggles.   Executive Director of Dorothy Njemanze Foundation, Dorothy Njemanze, gave insight into the GBV landscape. As a front-line responder, she emphasised the need for collective action in stemming GBV.