By Bashir Hassan Abubakar
As part of activities commemorating this year’s 16 Days of Activism aimed at ending gender based violence (GBV) against women and girls in Bauchi State, USAID funded State Accountability, Transparency, and Effectiveness (State2State) Activity, Bauchi field office has on Tuesday 6th December, 2022 organized a Two Day Symposium on ending the cankerworm bedevilling communities worldwide.
The activity attracted participants from Government MDAs, International Partners, Religious /Community Leaders, Civil Society Organizations, Women Groups and the Media.
In a short welcome address, USAID State2State Bauchi State Team Lead, Rabi Ekele said violence against women and girls is one of the most persistent and devastating human rights violations and has remained largely unreported due to the silence, stigma and shame associated with such violations.
Ekele then expressed her hope that the two days symposium would reawaken a call to action with a view to checkmating GBV in Bauchi State and the country at large.
Also speaking, the permanent secretary in the State Ministry of Women Affairs who was represented by the Director Women Affairs of the Ministry, Mrs. Fatima Abdullahi said the Ministry was happy to be part of the symposium and seek for collaboration other key stakeholders in mitigating GBV in Bauchi State.
She said the state has established an enabling law and punitive measures for such heinous crime.
Speaking on the objective of the symposium, the Gender and Social Inclusion (GESI) specialist in the USAID State2State Bauchi field office, Hassana Bello said the activity will seek to enhance knowledge, raise public awareness and encourage individuals, organizations and government to act towards the elimination of all forms of violence against women and girls in Bauchi State.
Bello also said that the symposium will also highlight the urgent need to increase funding for inclusive and long-term policies, strategies and programs to prevent and respond to GBV in the Bauchi State.
Presentations, that elicited constructive engagement with participants, were made on the current status of GBV in Bauchi State and Understanding the new VAPP law of the State.
Our correspondent reports that a communique is expected at the end of the two activity that is being held at the conference hall of Hazibal Hotel Bauchi.