By Bashir Hassan Abubakar
Bauchi State first lady Hajiya Aisha Bala Mohammed has called on Nigerian women to inculcate values of respect for Women to their male children.
Hajiya Mohammed made the call today at the commemoration of International Women Day held at the banquet hall of government house Bauchi.
The first lady stressed that the first level of disrespect for Women starts on the home front when parents discriminate in apportioning household chores to the female and allowing the male children to be walking around the house without any specific chores and thereby giving the impression that they are superior to their female siblings.
“If a male child grows up with such mindset, there is the tendency that that child will always see women as the second fiddle, because he got that impression right from when he was small”, said the first lady.
Hajiya Mohammed also called on the women to disabuse their minds from envy, jealousy and deceit being targeted at some women that made a landmark in their various vocations.
She also maintained that Women had always been their own problems despite their numerical strength in politics.
“Instead of us to support Women in their quest for elective positions, most of the women always goes behind to sabotage such aspirations”.
“We should always unite and be a strong force in order to make our voices heard”, Hajiya Mohammed said.
Earlier in her welcome address the State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Child Development Hajiya Hajara Gidado informed the women that experts have been invited to re-enlighten them on issues that mostly affects women.
Gidado said that the administration of Governor Bala Mohammed has been favourable to women in Bauchi State.
“I can say without any fear of contradiction that the current administration has the highest number of women representations in the state executive council in recent years. Our Governor is gender sensitive”, the commissioner said.
In a presentation titled “Bridging Impunity Gap and Mitigating the Dynamics of SGBV”, the Bauchi State Chairperson of Federation of Women Lawyers in Nigeria (FIDA) Barrister Fatima Abubakar identified Impunity as one of the major cause of gender violence in communities.
Barrister Abubakar said that lack of accountability encourages repetition of crimes, as perpetrators feel free to commit further offences without fear of punishment, which inflicts additional suffering on victims of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV).
She further stressed that, “Survivors of SGBV fear to report to their families or law enforcement because in most cases the alleged perpetrators are either families, neighbours or persons who engage in reprisals”.
Other factors that brings about impunity in perpetrating SGBV according the State FIDA Chairperson are social stigmatization and pressures from family to drop the charges.
Barr. Abubakar proffered that, to limit or avoid such challenges there is the need for sustained sensitization to women on their rights and available avenue for enforcement. Also, a platform needs to be provided for every woman and child to seek redress for violations and abuses of their rights.
Barr. Abubakar concluded her presentation saying, “though there are several actions needed to address impunity in perpetrating SGBV in our communities, one other key action is for government at all levels to put in place policies and take practical measures to prevent and combat SGBV”.
In her goodwill message, Bauchi State Chairperson of National Council of Women Society (NCWS), Barrister Shafa’u Ladan commended the state government for assenting to a law that stipulates life sentence for culprits of SGBV.
She called on the women to avail themselves the opportunity by seeking for redress in the court of law.
There were other goodwill messages from women groups also calling for a united front among women to project their course.
Highlight of the occasion was the donation of an Ambulance Vehicle to the Gynecology Department of the state specialist hospital by her pet project Almuhibbah Foundation and distribution of empowerment items to some selected vulnerable beneficiaries. The items includes sewing, grinding machines, wheelchairs and cash.