.….as ASHH Foundation Organize Capacity Building Meeting in Bauchi
By Bashir Hassan Abubakar
A Bauchi based Christian Cleric, Bishop Issac Crown has has called on Government, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Professional bodies and other relevant stakeholders to partners religious and community leaders in an effort towards mitigating Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) in Bauchi State, and Nigeria at large.
Bishop Crown made the call on Monday at a Two-days capacity building meeting for stakeholders that is aimed to address gaps created by impunity towards SGBV and how to mitigate the practice in Bauchi State.
Bishop Crown, who made a slide presentation titled, “Bridging the gap of impunity in mitigating SGBV on women and girls in Bauchi – Faith Based Intervention for Churches and Clergy”, advocated for setting up of more SGBV desk units in churches and mosques, and also strengthening the existing ones in Bauchi State.
“As religious and community leaders, we are closer to our communities and most times, people find solace in confiding to the clerics than even family members. Strengthening SGBV units in our places of worship will create the much needed enabling environment for victims of SGBV to come forward and speak out before such abuse becomes life threatening”, said Bishop Crown.
He further called for the mobilization of religious leaders on SGBV because of their roles in shaping people’s lives in communities, especially in rural areas.
The clergy supported his presentation with quotes from the Bible, stressing that, “Many passages in the New testament, if clearly understood, shows that God is totally against Sex and Gender Based Violence. In the new testament which is the compass for a Christian, God does not approved of any man dominating any human being”.
Earlier in her welcome address, the Executive Director, Attah Sisters Helping Hand Foundation (ASHH Foundation), Ms. Comfort Attah, said that the objective of the capacity building meeting was to further have a refresher engagement with key stakeholders and to also explore avenues on how on new ways on how to mitigate SGBV in communities of Bauchi State.
She said that ASHH Foundation, in collaboration with Women for Women International are working with vulnerable groups to identify their challenges and establish linkages to tackle cases of SGBV in Bauchi state communities.
“We are working with key stakeholders that includes State MDAs, State Legislature, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Security Agencies and Media to identify their capacity gaps and strength it in tackling SGBV menace,” Attah said.
Our correspondent reports that other presentations made on Day One of the capacity building meeting includes: Islamic Perspective on Violence Against Women, Medical/Health Considerations of SGBV, and Policy Framework and the roles of stakeholders that was presented by Hajiya Aishatu Ibrahim Kilishi of FOMWAN, Yahcit Dala of National Human Rights Commission and Dr. Robinson Yusuf of the State ministry of health.
A recommendation and an action plan is expected at the end end of capacity training.